Jazz icon John Clayton — pictured above with AFM Local 47 President Stephanie O’Keefe — kicked off our 3rd Annual Jazz Festival, which honored Live Members, with a moving speech. Listen to it here:
On May 29, AFM Local 47 was thrilled to exhibit for the second year in a row at the Musicians Institute Career & Industry Fair. The event brought out MI students and alumni, allowing them to meet and network with industry representatives.
Business Representative Russell Winkler and Communications Director Linda Rapka spent the sunny afternoon in Hollywood speaking with a steady stream of inquisitive music students about what they can expect after working their first AFM job and about the myriad benefits of union membership.
Members of AFM Local 47 and The Animation Guild (TAG) IATSE 839 spent a busy Saturday afternoon volunteering at the Glassell Station post office on May 10 as part of the National Association of Letter Carriers’ 2025 food drive. Continue reading
AFM Local 47 musicians rallied in solidarity with Production Assistants on May 4th (aka “Star Wars Day”) in their fight to unionize.
Held at IATSE Local 80 in Burbank, AFM Local 47 President Stephanie O’Keefe served as a guest speaker. Also in attendance from Local 47 were Vice President Marc Sazer and Secretary/Treasurer Gail Kruvand, Honorary Member Lewis Levy, and Communications Director Linda Rapka. Continue reading
The Association for Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) and California Copyright Conference (CCC) presented their seventh Music Industry Toolbox at our union hall on April 24, 2025.
Our Captain Greg Welch Gathering Place was bustling with music publishers, record companies, production music libraries/producers, managers, attorneys, and other music industry professionals throughout the five-hour event. Attendees enjoyed panelist presentations, round-table discussions, exhibitors, and raffle prizes.
Congratulations to AIMP and CCC on a successful event! Continue reading
April was a busy month for AFM Local 47 live musicians, who perfromed dozens of concerts co-sponsored by the Music Performance Trust Fund.
Brad Rabuchin’s Hidden Agenda
Leader: Brad Rabuchin – 7 musicians
April 3, 2025 @ Alexander Hamilton High Continue reading
Photo by Noah Murty // AFM Local 47 Live Performance Business Representative Amber O’Donnell and Communications Director Linda Rapka spent a fun afternoon in Exposition Park on April 25 chatting with high school and college students pursuing careers in music and entertainment.
AFM Local 47 was thrilled to exhibit with dozens of fellow unions, guilds and organizations at the Entertainment Industry Foundation Careers in Entertainment Expo on April 25. Continue reading
Last year, a group of teenage musicians auditioned and were chosen for the opportunity of their young lives: playing a concert with “The President’s Own,” the United States Marine Band. The teens were all part of Equity Arc, a nonprofit organization that provides mentoring and support for young musicians of color, and the concert was set for this coming May. Continue reading
by Rochelle Skolnick, AFM Symphonic Services Division Director and Special Counsel
and Jonathan Ferrone, AFM Chief of Staff and Assistant to the President
Reports of sexual harassment, assault, and other abusive practices within our industry have become more public over the past few years. The AFM strives to ensure a safe, comfortable, and productive work environment for all members. Our union, after all, belongs to all of its members, and an injury to one is an injury to us all. Unfortunately, we have learned that some members may not have felt comfortable reporting sensitive situations to their union and some were unaware that their union could help in such cases. Continue reading
In the aftermath of the devastating L.A. County wildfires, Labor Community Services (LCS) and the Los Angeles Federation of Labor have been working to get resources and aid distributed to affected union members as quickly as possible. Continue reading