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
In a move to lift spirits and bring a bit of joy to those affected by the recent L.A. wildfires, the Music Performance Trust Fund, Red Cross of Los Angeles County, and Make Music Alliance, Inc. co-sponsored a live concert with AFM Local 47 musicians on the afternoon of February 12 at the Disaster Recovery Center in Pasadena.
The brass quintet, led by Local 47 member Brad Close, was greeted with words of appreciation for their surprise three-hour concert.
“The performance was well received by clients and volunteers alike,” said Timothy Dahlum, Pasadena Complex Site Manager. “Several people stopped me to ask who the group was and said thank you for bringing them in — two called it an unexpected treat.” Continue reading
MPTF Trustee Dan Beck, AFM Local 7 Secretary/Treasurer Tammy Noreyko, AFM Local 47 Sound Recording Business Representative Jamie Vespa, AFM Local 47 Communications Director Linda Rapka, AFM International Musician Advertising Director Honore Stockley, AFM Director of Communications Antoinette Follet, AFM Director of Freelance Services Wages Argott, and AFM Local 7 President Edmund Velasco.
The American Federation of Musicians and Music Performance Trust Fund were thrilled to exhibit at this year’s National Association of Music Merchants show for the second year in a row. Continue reading