Tag Archives: Keeping the Score in California

‘Keeping the Score in CA’ Rally Highlights Good Jobs for Musicians Via Tax Credit Legislation

“Keeping the Score in CA” kickoff concert & media event outside of Los Angeles City Hall on Aug. 19, 2017. (Photos: Linda A. Rapka)

“Momentum is strong, and we can’t let up now!” That was the dominant message on Saturday, Aug. 19 at the “Keeping the Score in CA” free concert and rally at city hall where a crowd of 150 gathered to hear music, politicians and union leaders push for the AB 1300, the music scoring tax credit that will help keep good jobs in California.

“When you look at the overall state budget, the value of retaining these jobs here is of significant state interest,” Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon (D-57th), told the crowd who gathered to hear performances by musicians including Rickey Minor (bandleader for the 69th Annual Emmy Awards whose credits also include “The Tonight Show” and “American Idol”) and Siddhartha Khosla (composer for NBC’s “This Is Us”).

Related: Variety – Musicians Union Members Stage Free Concert to Bring Scoring Jobs Back to L.A. Continue reading →

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Max the Trax: Musicians Turn Up Volume on Scoring Tax Credit

California Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon addresses the crowd at the AFM “Keeping the Score in California,” with (from left) RMA’s Marc Sazer, RMALA’s Steve Dress, AFM Local 47’s John Acosta, LA County Federation of Labor’s Rusty Hicks, and Local UNITE HERE Local 11’s Jordan Fein. (Photo: Paula Parisi / MaxTheTrax)

– Published by Max The Trax, Aug. 28, 2017

With three top California assemblyman singing their tune at the American Federation of Musicians’ “Keeping the Score in California” event, it appears as if the tax incentive designed to keep recording work in the state is destined for passage. “I don’t see it as a question of if it’s going to happen, I see it as a question of when it’s going to happen,” said Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon, who in April introduced the measure, AB 1300. Continue reading →

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Calls needed to Keep the Score in CA!

Photo: Linda A. Rapka

Thank you!

Musicians, labor allies and community leaders came together last Saturday at our “Keeping the Score in CA” kickoff concert. Thanks to Rickey Minor, Siddhartha Khosla, and all of our esteemed Assemblymembers and guest speakers for showing our local legislators, and AB 1300 author Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon, that music scoring tax credits are a key issue to our community. View the photo gallery and media coverage on the event.

Now let’s thank our Assemblymembers.

Call Majority Leader Ian Calderon and Assemblymembers Sebastian Ridley-Thomas and Jim Cooper to thank them for being champions only for our event, but for our entire industry. Continue reading →

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Variety: Musicians’ Union Members Stage Free Concert to Bring Scoring Jobs Back to L.A.

By Jon Burlingame, Shirley Halperin

As part of an ongoing effort to return scoring jobs to California, some 150 music professionals supporting Los Angeles musician unions gathered on Saturday (Aug. 19) at Los Angeles City Hall for a free concert. They included members of Local 47 of the American Federation of Musicians, SAG-AFTRA and IATSE; and other music groups including the Society of Composers and Lyricists, the American Youth Symphony, the L.A. Chamber Orchestra, and the Recording Academy of Los Angeles.

Longtime “American Idol” music director Rickey Minor led a six-man band in music throughout the event, and songwriters Siddhartha Khosla and Chris Pierce performed “We Can Always Come Back to This,” the Memphis-soul-style song that proved popular during the past season of “This Is Us.” Continue reading →

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LA Times: Hollywood musicians are backing a new bill that seeks to stop runaway film scoring

by David Ng, Los Angeles Times

The livelihoods of Hollywood musicians have long been under siege as major movie and TV productions continue to outsource scoring to other states as well as abroad.

Local instrumentalists have tried pressuring the major studios to bring more scoring back to Los Angeles and many are backing a new state bill from Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon (D-Whittier) that would increase tax credits doled out to movie productions that choose to do their music scoring in California.

On Saturday, musicians will step up their protest by staging a free concert at L.A. City Hall, starting at 10:30 a.m. The event is designed to raise awareness of the state bill and bring attention to the issue of runaway scoring. Continue reading →

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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 →

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Variety: Musicians’ Union Backs Legislation to Return Scoring Jobs to L.A.

DAVID HARTLEY/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK

by Jon Burlingame, Variety

Work for Los Angeles studio musicians continues to decline as production companies find cheaper alternatives elsewhere, so musicians’ union executives are backing California legislation designed to provide financial incentives to return film- and TV-scoring jobs back to Hollywood.

Assembly Bill 1300, the “Music Scoring Tax Credit Bill,” recently introduced by Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon, would offer a 30 percent tax credit to U.S. productions made in foreign countries, as well as for low-budget films, that use California musicians. Union officials believe that passage could mean millions in regained wages for studio players. Continue reading →

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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 →

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