Tag Archives: streaming

Musicians #BandTogether at Kickoff Rallies in LA, NY in Contract Fight for New Media Residuals

Negotiations resume this month with film/TV producers

OCTOBER 7, 2019 — Today members of the American Federation of Musicians rallied from coast to coast as part of the musicians’ national grassroots #BandTogether campaign calling on film and TV producers to offer a fair contract that includes streaming residuals.

In Sherman Oaks, a large crowd gathered in the morning outside the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers headquarters, where bargaining resumed today, to perform live music and rally with leaders from entertainment unions including SAG-AFTRA and WGA West. In New York, a concurrent rally took place outside NBCUniversal headquarters at Rockefeller Center with Congressman Jerrold Nadler and AFM members. The rallies follow several public actions held in recent weeks in Nashville, New York and Los Angeles. Continue reading →

LA Times: How the rise of streaming might turn Hollywood musicians into an endangered species

By MICHAEL HILTZIK
BUSINESS COLUMNIST

SEP. 26, 2019 | 5 AM

Hollywood musicians, those foot soldiers who bring the work of celebrated composers such as John Williams (“Star Wars”), James Horner (“Titanic”) and Hans Zimmer (“Dunkirk”) to life, have faced a mound of professional challenges in recent years.

Producers record their film scores in London or other overseas locations to avoid paying union scale, digital recordings have eaten away at opportunities for live players, and studios penny-pinch on music in countless ways even though their recording budgets are typically a tiny piece of a project’s budget — a $100-million project might spend less than $400,000 on musicians’ pay.

But now the musicians are facing a threat that some call potentially an “extinction-level event.” It’s the takeover of the entertainment industry by streaming video services.

> continue reading @ latimes.com

AFM Motion Picture/TV Film contract extended through November; musicians’ fight for streaming continues

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Negotiations between the AFM and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers began March 13. On the first morning of bargaining, musicians held a press conference calling on the film and TV studios to engage in fair contract negotiations and protect the future careers of professional musicians as the industry shifts to streaming and online distribution. The story was reported by several news outlets including Variety, Billboard, Deadline, and Digital Music News. Continue reading →

Musicians Call on Film/TV Studios to Bargain Fair for Streaming Media

Studios’ refusal to provide New Media residuals threatens livelihood of musicians

LOS ANGELES, CA (March 13, 2019) — Today members of the American Federation of Musicians, AFL-CIO, held a press conference calling on the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to engage in fair contract negotiations and protect the future careers of professional musicians as the industry shifts to streaming and online distribution (aka “new media”). Continue reading →

Musicians take on New Media with Motion Picture/TV Film Campaign

Negotiations between the AFM and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) began on March 13, 2019. We’re taking on the most important aspect of the future of the recording industry: new media and streaming services.

On the first morning of bargaining, musicians held a press conference calling on film and TV studios to engage in fair contract negotiations and protect the future careers of professional musicians as the industry shifts to streaming and online distribution. The story was reported by several news outlets including Variety, Billboard, Deadline, and Digital Music News.

After three days of intense talks, management was unwilling to accept or negotiate over our most important proposals. On March 18, the bargaining team negotiated a brief contract extension: a 2% raise in existing wages, continuing the terms and conditions of the current agreement to Nov. 14, 2019.

Now through November, AFM musicians will be ramping up efforts to win a fair contract. AFM members working in all areas of the business are encouraged to get involved in the campaign.

47 Blog | AFM Local 47