Category Archives: Press Releases

Musicians Celebrate New Laws to Strengthen California Film & TV Music Industry

Chris Pierce (left) and Siddhartha Khosla (front right) perform with Rickey Minor and his band at the Keeping the Score in California kickoff concert at Los Angeles City Hall Aug. 19, 2017, in support of music tax credits. [File photo/Linda A. Rapka/AFM Local 47]

Newly inked state budget looks to bring music jobs back to the state

LOS ANGELES, CA (July 5, 2018) — Musicians and the entertainment industry celebrate a major victory with the update to California’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program that for the first time includes meaningful support for music-scoring jobs.

California has suffered an exodus of film and television music jobs for decades, and the state budget signed Monday by Gov. Jerry Brown gives the California Film Commission authority to create regulations that will have a significant impact in bringing these music jobs back home. In version 3.0 of the program, productions will now receive points based on how many music-scoring jobs will be created in California. These points don’t increase the incentive a production receives — they actually help a production qualify. Continue reading →

AFM Local 47 statement on Janus decision

Today’s disappointing Supreme Court decision in Janus v. AFSCME ruled in favor of a corporate interest power-grab over working Americans and their unions.

Wealthy special interest groups spent millions of dollars on this case with the express intent to diminish working people’s numbers in union representation. Breaking a precedent set over 40 years ago, public-sector workers who are not union members but are protected by a union contract are now told they do not have to pay their fair share. The goal was clear: to undercut unions’ abilities to effectively advocate and negotiate on behalf of their members, weaken their position at the bargaining table, and undermine all of organized labor — all at the expense of working people. Continue reading →

TV Musicians Demand Respect from the Networks

Audience members outside of “The Late Late Show With James Corden” taping at CBS Television Studios Dec. 6, 2017, support TV musicians and call on the networks to #RespectTheBand.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 7, 2017 – Musicians working on late-night, award, and other live television shows are calling on the networks to pay band members when they appear on YouTube and network websites.

“Other performers are all paid when Jimmy Kimmel Live! streams on YouTube or other online outlets, yet musicians are paid nothing. Musicians just want to be compensated for our likeness and our music,” said Cleto Escobedo III, Musical Director of Cleto and the Cletones. “I love Jimmy, the producers, and everyone we work with. We just need to make sure the networks treat us and ALL of our colleagues fairly.” Continue reading →

Pasadena Symphony Musicians Vote to Authorize Strike

Musicians of the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra in rehearsal Aug. 16, 2016.

LOS ANGELES (December 1, 2017) — Musicians of the Pasadena Symphony and POPS orchestras voted today by an overwhelming majority to authorize a strike, potentially halting concerts during the popular holiday season and into the New Year.

Musicians have been without a contract since September of 2015, when their last agreement expired. Ten years ago, when the orchestra faced financial uncertainty, the musicians did everything possible to ensure the orchestra’s survival: absorbing cost-saving cuts, forgoing raises for years, even playing without compensation. At the time, the Pasadena Symphony Association promised musicians that these cuts would be temporary. Current management has disavowed those commitments. Now, a decade after the crisis, Pasadena Symphony musicians have yet to reach an agreement that restores their generous concessions. Continue reading →

Randy Newman Backs Music Tax Credit Bill, ‘Keeping the Score in CA’

Free concert Saturday at LA City Hall to promote AB 1300 to feature Rickey Minor (‘American Idol,’ ‘The Tonight Show’), composer Siddhartha Khosla (‘This Is Us’), surprise musical guests

LOS ANGELES, CA (August 16, 2017) — Los Angeles film and television musicians will perform a free concert at City Hall on Saturday, Aug. 19 to raise awareness of AB 1300, the Music Scoring Tax Credit Bill aimed at bringing back more of the entertainment industry’s scoring and composing work to California.

As momentum for the bill builds, Randy Newman is the latest high-profile musician to back the legislation. “The studio musicians here in Los Angeles are one of the greatest resources this city has,” said the legendary singer-songwriter and composer. Continue reading →

LA Philharmonic & AFM Local 47 Announce New Five-Year Contract

August 11, 2017 – The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association (LA Phil) and American Federation of Musicians Local 47, AFL-CIO, today jointly announced agreement on a new five-year labor contract, effective September 18. Continue reading →

Free Concert at LA City Hall to Promote ‘Keeping the Score in CA’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Musicians Rickey Minor (‘American Idol,’ Grammys), Siddhartha Khosla (‘This Is Us’) and special guests to perform live in support of Music Scoring Tax Credit Bill AB 1300

Rickey Minor

LOS ANGELES, CA (August 3, 2017) — Los Angeles film and television musicians will perform a free concert at City Hall on Saturday, Aug. 19 to raise awareness of AB 1300, the Music Scoring Tax Credit Bill aimed at bringing more of this work to California.

Keeping the Score in California, a free concert and media event sponsored by the American Federation of Musicians Local 47, will feature live performances by Emmy-nominated music director Rickey Minor (“American Idol,” Grammy Awards, Super Bowl Halftime Show); Siddhartha Khosla, composer for the hit TV series “This is Us” recently nominated for 11 Emmys; and special surprise musicians to be announced. Continue reading →

Guaranteed Healthcare Rocks!

Los Angeles musician creates ‘Schoolhouse Rock!’-inspired songs promoting the Healthy California Act SB 562

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 20, 2017) — Today Healthy California launched first in a series of “Schoolhouse Rock!”-inspired music videos created by a Los Angeles musician in support of the Healthy California SB 562, a bill that will create a single-payer system that guarantees healthcare for all Californians.

Created by Los Angeles composer and lyricist Clifford J. Tasner, a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 47, the retro-themed video titled “Middleman” points out the flaws of our broken healthcare system by taking aim at greedy health insurance companies responsible for the rising cost of medical care. SB 562 would create a “Medicare for All” system in that includes medical, dental, vision, reproductive, and mental health for all Californians. Continue reading →

Musicians Target Offshoring to Bring Jobs Back to California

AB 1300 will expand domestic film and TV music scoring by boosting state tax credit for foreign productions

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 13, 2017) — As California suffers an exodus of film and television music jobs, musicians are battling offshoring head-on with a new bill that would boost the state tax credit for foreign productions.

AB 1300, recently introduced by Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon, would bring the success of the California Film & TV Tax Credit Program to musicians and the scores that are an integral part of every motion picture and TV project. Continue reading →

AFM Local 47 Launches Lifetime Achievement Awards

Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell (13th District) speaks about the great value musicians give to the community at the inaugural AFM Local 47 Lifetime Achievement Awards on April 24, 2017. (Photo: Liska Yamada)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
download pdf

Esteemed members of the Los Angeles musicians union honored at inaugural event

LOS ANGELES, CA (APRIL 26, 2017) — More than 200 musicians gathered on the evening of April 24, 2017, to celebrate a new tradition honoring esteemed members of the Los Angeles musicians union at the inaugural American Federation of Musicians Local 47 Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Acclaimed musicians Gene Cipriano (woodwinds), Vincent DeRosa (horn), Louise DiTullio (flute), Carol Kaye (electric bass), and Dick Nash (trombone) were recognized during the ceremony, held at the AFM Local 47 Serena Kay & Earl Williams Auditorium in Hollywood, for their outstanding achievements and support of the artistic community of Los Angeles.

Continue reading →