The Recording Industries’ Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) fiscal year ends April 30. Now is the time for potential grant applicants to send in letters requesting assistance for your group, ensemble or orchestra.
Changes to the MPTF require that all grant applicants have a Federal ID number (e.g. non-profit organization, local business, etc.) and assume all employer responsibilities; Local 47 is no longer responsible for preparing the payrolls as in years past. Applicants accepted for an MPTF grant are responsible for direct payment to all musicians, including benefits, work dues and the proper filing of union reports with Local 47. Once all the necessary paperwork and proof of payroll is submitted to Local 47, the documents will be sent to MPTF headquarters in New York. Once verified and processed, your grant check will be mailed directly from MPTF.
Application Deadline: April 1
The grant request process remains the same. Request letters should include the following: date, time, place, a description of the event, the name of the group they are requesting assistance for, the name of the leader, how many side musicians and cartage. To qualify for assistance, the event must be absolutely free and open to the public; no donations, no fundraising.
Funds are made available by MPTF to sponsor performances for community events, outdoor park concerts, libraries, senior citizen centers and museums, as well as educational performances throughout Los Angeles County by a wide variety of jazz, classical, chamber, symphonic and other ensembles.
Each new fiscal year we seem to receive more and more requests for assistance. All requests will be reviewed for approval, and recommendations will be forwarded to MPTF in New York. Our new fiscal year begins May 1 and goes through April 30. If you have any questions, please contact Local 47 MPTF Administrator Diane Lauerman at (323) 993-3156 or diane.lauerman@promusic47.org.
All requests MUST be received in writing no later than April 1.
Mail requests to:
AFM Local 47
Attn: MPTF Department
817 Vine St.
Hollywood CA 90038
POINTS TO REMEMBER:
1. Music must be the main reason for the event.
2. The concert must be free and open to the public, with no condition for admittance.
3. There must be no donations solicited before, after, or during the performance.
4. There must be no recording (video or audio) of a performance.
5. Music must not be used for any fundraising activity no matter how worthwhile the project.
6. Music must not be part of a religious service, seminar, clinic, etc.
