Category Archives: Features

Don’t Get Penalized! File for Your LA Business Tax & Creative Artist Exemption

business-tax If you are defined as a “creative artist” under the Los Angeles Municipal Code, you might be eligible for the Business Tax Exemption provision.

Under the Small Business Exemption, no tax is required of creative artists whose total annual taxable and nontaxable gross receipts attributable to creative activities do not exceed $300,000.

This exemption applies strictly to individual “creative artists” (individual, individual acting as a loan-out corporation, or individual acting through a limited liability company), when performing “creative activities” for “entertainment or aesthetic purposes.” It only applies to those receipts the creative artists earn from their creative activities and does not include income from any other source.

The exemption is available as of Jan. 1 during the business tax renewal period. Businesses must file a renewal in a timely manner in order to receive the exemption.
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Why Should You File for Unemployment Benefits?

by Lewis N. Levy, Esq.

Even the off-handed mention of filing for unemployment benefits sends most professional musicians scurrying for cover. Filing for unemployment benefits conjures up thoughts of waiting in long lines, dealing with unresponsive bureaucrats, and requires an understanding of the process. But what is most critical to any successful claim for unemployment is a finding by the California State Employment Development Department (EDD) that the musician (or other employee) seeking unemployment benefits is, as a matter of California law, a statutory “employee” of his/her employer, as opposed to a finding that the claimant is an independent contractor. Continue reading →

Made In Hollywood Honors For Television 2016

Made In Hollywood Honors Television 2016 took place at 1600 Vine the morning of Sept. 7, 2016 - AFM Local 47 EMD Administrator Gordon Grayson, Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund Executive Director Kim Roberts Hedgpeth, Recording Musicians Association International President Marc Sazer, AFM Local 47 Vice President Rick Baptist. (Not pictured: AFM Local 47 Secretary/Treasurer Gary Lasley)

Made In Hollywood Honors For Television 2016 – AFM Local 47 Electronic Media Division Administrator Gordon Grayson, Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund Executive Director Kim Roberts Hedgpeth, Recording Musicians Association International President Marc Sazer, AFM Local 47 Vice President Rick Baptist. Not pictured: AFM Local 47 Secretary/Treasurer Gary Lasley. (Photo: Linda A. Rapka)

The 4th Annual Made In Hollywood Honors For Television awards honored this year’s Emmy-nominated shows produced in California and the Los Angeles area in a star-studded program the morning of Sept. 7, 2016. Continue reading →

Gene Wilder: A Remembrance

Gene Wilder publicity photo, 1970 (public domain)

It’s never easy to say goodbye to a friend. Gene Wilder was a friend to many the world over, who were familiar with his zany genius starring in such classic films as The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and so many more.

He too was a friend to the Los Angeles music scoring community, whose members created the music to a majority of his most beloved films. Continue reading →

Saturday Night Bath Brings Good, Clean Fun to At-Risk Youth

Going over 30 years strong, nonprofit music outreach group Saturday Night Bath continues to deliver music therapy to those who need it most, from at-risk youth to senior citizens and the greater community.

Each year, Saturday Night Bath visits an average of 20 continuation high schools and correctional facilities. To date they have presented nearly 600 interactive concerts at local juvenile halls, elementary, middle and continuation high schools, and probation camps throughout the state, connecting directly with 37,000 young people. Through this outreach SNB is able to provide vital hands-on music therapy, and in recent years have given preference to pregnant teen sites. Continue reading →

Free eBook: 23 Ways Musicians Can Make Money

One of the biggest challenges facing musicians is generating income. Although sales of recorded music have dropped significantly, there are many new sources of income available to musicians.

Our friends at Bandzoogle have put together a free eBook called “23 Ways Musicians Can Make Money” to help musicians and bands find ways to generate more money for their careers. Continue reading →

In the studio w/ Kid Cudi

For his forthcoming album, hip hop artist Kid Cudi went with the very best musicians: members of AFM Local 47! Continue reading →

ProMusicDB Files Provisional Patent Application on Digital Identity Governance for Music Professionals

uspto

This month, ProMusicDB took a big step on behalf of musicians everywhere and filed the platform’s technical specifications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which describe how ProMusicDB can preserve, protect, and authenticate the digital identity of music creators and musical works in the digital realm.

These technical tasks are accomplished in the form of an artist-contributed, non-profit music credits database and digital archive, to be created by musical artist contribution for the public good, forever. Continue reading →

Grocery Workers #MakeEndsMeet march & rally 8/2/016

UPDATE 8/4/2016: Today, UFCW reports that the union reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, pending ratification by their membership. Congratulations to members of UFCW and their leadership on this new agreement, and thank you to our members who turned out in support of our sisters and brothers! Standing together, we win. Sign up for Local 47 Action Alerts @ bit.ly/L47actionalerts

On Aug 2, 2016, hundreds of union members marched & rallied in support of Vons, Albertsons & Ralphs workers fighting to #MakeEndsMeet. Continue reading →

Our Story, Our Legacy: BlackMusic, BlackWork exhibit to celebrate the rich legacy of Los Angeles Local 767

Workers and supporters of the Los Angeles Black Worker Center and former members and family of the historical L.A. musicians union Local 767 join together at the BlackMusic, BlackWork kickoff fundraising event, which took place at the Vision Theatre in Liemert Park July 21. (Photo: Linda A. Rapka)

The richness of Los Angeles comprises stories that move the mind, soul, and conviction. One of these stories is the unsung bravery and artistry of early Central Avenue musicians whose work transformed L.A.’s music industry forever.

BlackMusic, BlackWork, an upcoming historical exhibit of the Los Angeles Black musicians union Local 767, aims to share dynamic history of organizing in the arts that spans the founding of the city’s Black musicians union in the 1920s to the contemporary struggles of working musicians who understand the transformative power of art and culture.

Artifacts from the historical Los Angeles Black musicians union Local 767 from the 1920s through the 1950s.

In a major kickoff event to raise funds for this historic exhibition set to debut in February 2017 during Black History Month, AFM Local 47, the Los Angeles Black Worker Center, UCLA Labor Center, and the City of Los Angeles hosted the Jam Session for Justice in the Arts Fundraiser at the Vision Theatre in Liemert Park on July 21.
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