Category Archives: All News

Important AFM Update: CA Film & TV Tax Credit Expansion & Musician Jobs

A Message from AFM International President Tino Gagliardi

For the past several months, the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) has lobbied on behalf of musicians regarding Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2025-2026 Budget. For the first time, the AFM has taken a strong, proactive position to ensure we are heard in Sacramento. With thanks to Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) President Stephanie O’Keefe and AFM local leaders up and down the state, we have been successful. Our union now has a seat at the table among the other arts and entertainment unions and guilds. Continue reading →

Keep CA Rolling: SB 630 passes Senate, AB 1138 Passes Assembly

On the afternoon of June 4, SB 630 passed the Senate Floor 34 YES 1 NO, and that evening AB 11380 passed the Assembly floor 70 YES 1 NO.

Our fight continues to MODERNIZE and advocate for the inclusion of the EXPANSION by way of the Governor’s proposed budget.

WHAT CAN YOU DO RIGHT NOW?

1. 📝 Take 2 minutes to submit a letter to key elected officials through our re-launched campaign to ‘Keep California Rolling: Reel Jobs Need Real Action Now!” – send your letter
Continue reading →

Final Note: Alf Clausen

Life Member. Composer
3/28/1941 – 5/30/2025

by Pam Gates

I was lucky enough to have worked with Alf and “The Simpsons” TV show orchestra for 12 years!

Alf was a magnificent composer and held wonderful AFM sessions. First and foremost he took care of business. He absolutely knew what musical result he wanted from his players and his crew accomplished that! Continue reading →

Join us at LA PRIDE 2025!

Join our Entertainment Union Coalition at this year’s LA PRIDE PARADE in HOLLYWOOD!

Gathering Time: 9:30 a.m. @ La Brea & Sunset (NE Corner)
Parade Start Time: 11 a.m.

This year, we are marching to show our PRIDE and support of our LGBTQ+ community, and to raise awareness of our ongoing fight to protect and grow film and television jobs in our state through our Keep California Rolling campaign and the fight to expand and modernize our film and television jobs program. AFM will be marching alongside Teamsters, SAG-AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, WGA-W and more.

Please register below and we will share full event details as we get closer to the parade date:

June 2025 Overture Online: Tolerance

Inside This Issue:

Cover Story: Celebrating Tolerance
Join Us at LA PRIDE 2025 with the EUC!
AFM Local 47 Special Meeting: Wednesday, June 4 via Zoom
Member Spotlight: Sir Elton John
Album Review: ‘That’s a Different Groove’ by Marcus Eley
3rd Annual AFM Local 47 Jazz Festival Photo Gallery
CALL TO ACTION: Entertainment Union Coalition
Options and Strategies for Replacing Your Wildfire Destroyed Home
Local 47 Action Alert: Help Improve & Expand LA’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance
Musicians and Animators Join Together to Help ‘Stamp Out Hunger’
Production Assistants Rally to Unionize with LiUNA
Exclusive Hearing Care Savings
Final Note: Roberto Cani
Audition Notices: Santa Barbara Symphony, LA Youth Orchestra
and more!

Browse our full Overture pdf archives here.

For special members-only Overture content — Executive Board minutes, CBAs, Local 47 Wage Scales, Bylaws, Suspended/Expelled member lists, and more — log in to your new E2 member account at ensemble.afm47.org and browse the “Overture” section on the Documents page. (New to E2? Visit our E2 FAQ here.)

Help Improve & Expand LA’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance

The Keep LA Housed Coalition — in conjunction with the LA County Fed, labor unions, renters groups and housing groups — is currently working on the LA Rent Stabilization Ordinance (LARSO) initiative to improve rules for renters in the city of Los Angeles.

The coalition is working with, and advocating for, low-income and vulnerable residents in L.A. who would be directly impacted by an update to LARSO, which is meant to provide for predictable, absorbable rent increases that allow landlords to receive a fair rate of return without fueling increased displacement and homelessness. Continue reading →

CALL TO ACTION: Entertainment Union Coalition

We are in the most critical moment of our fight to expand and modernize our California film and television jobs program.

Simply put, we will need the voices of every single member, small business, family members, friends and colleagues to get this across the finish lines in the coming week. The toughest part of this fight remains in front of us over the next two weeks. Continue reading →

Special Meeting: June 4, 2025

Virtual Meeting via Zoom – 7:30 p.m.

Purpose: To discuss AFM Local 47’s engagement in the Entertainment Union Coalition (EUC) and the Federation’s strategy regarding advocacy for the inclusion of post-production scoring in the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program.

Open to all Local 47 members in good standing. Zoom registration is required. Please register ASAP — registration will close on the day of the Special Meeting at 7:30 p.m. sharp. Once your membership is verified by our staff, you will receive an email link with the virtual access code.

Final Note: Roberto Cani

Member. Violin
10/17/1967 – 4/9/2025

World-Renowned Violinist and Artist

Roberto Cani, an internationally acclaimed violinist whose artistry and dedication to music inspired audiences across the globe, passed away on April 9, 2025. Known for his extraordinary talent and devotion to the violin, Roberto leaves behind a legacy of beautiful artistry and a deep passion for music. Continue reading →

New TV Film/New Media Streaming Residual Begins Payouts!

“Reasonable Doubt” Season 2, music composed by Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge and scored by Local 47 musicians and prep professionals, is one of the first to begin paying out per the new streaming residual. The series streams on Hulu. Fun Fact: The series pays tribute to Jay-Z’s album of the same name, and some episodes are named after the album’s tracks.

Thanks to the fabulous efforts and hard work of the organizing and negotiating teams, the new streaming residual won in the 2024 MOU to the AFM Motion Picture and TV Film Agreements is beginning to bear fruit! Musicians and music prep professionals who worked on certain made-for-new-media films or series will begin to see residuals payouts, including health and welfare contributions, pursuant to the new streaming residual provisions. Continue reading →