Category Archives: All News

That Thing That is Taft Hartley

by Gordon Grayson, EMD Administrator

Every Monday the Local sends a stack of automatically generated letters to all sorts of non-member musicians from all sorts of places for all sorts of engagements. These Taft-Hartley Musician Notifications refer to multitudes of musical employment, but all have one particular thing in common: my signature. The letters are something of a blunt tool, meant to apply to all manner of varied circumstances of employment that today’s musical workplace presents, but they most assuredly are intended to inform rather than offend. They do seemingly never cease to generate curiosity and/or concern among their recipients, who inevitably call the phone number at the bottom to discuss – also mine. Sometimes once a day, sometimes five, I have the opportunity to wax philosophical on the subtle intricacies of congressional legislation as it relates to collective bargaining, labor and union employment… Taft-Brother-Truckin’-Hartley, baby! Continue reading

H&W: Safeguarding Member Information is a Top Priority at Blue Shield of CA

blue shieldProfessional Musicians, Local 47 and Employers’ Health & Welfare Fund

As an eligible* Blue Shield medical plan member who has enrolled in Blue Shield as a benefit option through the Professional Musicians, Local 47 and Employers’ Health & Welfare Fund (the “Fund”), you may now have available to you identity protection services such as identity repair assistance, identity theft insurance and credit monitoring. It makes good sense, and it is offered at no charge. You can access and enroll in these services by calling (855) 904-5733, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday or 24/7 at blueshieldca.allclearid.com. Continue reading

July 2016 Overture Online: Alliance for Women Film Composers

Overture Online
July 2016

Cover Story:

Leveling the Score

Alliance for Women Film Composers celebrates and advocates for female artists


We’re Stronger Together
Why it pays to work union

AFL-CIO Mourns Lives Lost in Orlando Massacre
Labor pulls together in unity for the LGBTQ community

Ill or Injured? Know Your Rights
Learn the basics about your legal protections under the ADA and FMLA

SAVE THE DATES!
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING: July 25
LOCAL 47 GENERAL ELECTION: December 13

and more!

The Overture Online app is available FREE @ Apple App Store & Google Play:

  
Overture Online is optimized for reading via smartphone or tablet. For those without access to a smart device, this issue may be viewed here on a web browser (must have flash enabled). Local 47 members may download archived pdf versions from the members section at afm47.org.


Summer 2016 Overture Magazine

Local 47 members will soon be receiving the print Summer magazine in the mail. These print issues contain additional news not found in the public Overture Online, such as Resolutions to amend the bylaws, member status updates, and other announcements requiring due notice per the Bylaws. If you are a member in good standing and didn’t receive your print copy, email us or view it online by logging in to your member account at afm47.org.

Recording Academy Announces Rule Amendments and Dates for 59th Annual Grammy Awards Process

grammys-ratings-2016The Recording Academy® has completed its annual awards review and established new amendments and key dates guiding the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards® process. Among other changes, the updates allow previously ineligible streaming-only works into the process and limit the number of categories in which members may vote. The new guidelines go into effect immediately in the current-year awards cycle.

“The GRAMMYs® aren’t just peer-awarded, they’re peer-driven. Throughout the year, members of the music community come to us asking to make changes to the Awards process, and we work with them to figure out how those changes might work,” said Bill Freimuth, Senior Vice President of Awards for The Recording Academy. “I’m proud of this year’s changes because they’re a testament to the artists, producers, and writers – the people who rolled up their sleeves to shape the proposals and, in turn, the future of the GRAMMYs. It’s exactly what they should be doing. It’s their award.”

Key Dates

Eligibility Period: Oct. 1, 2015 to Sept. 30, 2016
Nominations Date: Dec. 6, 2016
Awards Date: Feb. 12, 2017 Continue reading

President John Acosta Elected to IEB

The new AFM International Executive Board members - including our own President John Acosta - being sworn in at the 100th Convention. (Photo: Bonnie Janofsky)

The new AFM International Executive Board members – including our own President John Acosta – being sworn in at the 100th Convention. (Photo: Bonnie Janofsky)

Exciting news to share from the American Federation of Musicians 100th Convention: Our own Local 47 President John Acosta has been elected to serve on the International Executive Board.

Running on the Team Unity slate, as a member of the IEB Acosta will act as a conduit to bring the concerns of our Los Angeles music community directly to our international leadership. Continue reading

Calendar Politics, or What to do When Asked to ‘Hold That Date!’

hold that date -NO

by EMD Administrator Gordon Grayson

On stand-by calls, or the dreaded “avail” call, Section I (“General Conditions”), Paragraph 1 (“Stand-by Calls”) of both the AFM Basic Television and Theatrical Agreements state, unequivocally: “There shall be no stand-by calls.”

Similarly, Exhibit A (“Minimum Wages and Other Working Conditions”), Section I (“Instrumentalists, Leaders, Contractors”), Paragraph F (“Advance Notice of Sessions and Contract Info”) of the AFM Sound Recording Labor Agreement also states in pertinent part: “Stand-by calls shall be prohibited.” Continue reading

Composer John Williams Receives AFI Life Achievement Award

For the first time in AFI history, America’s highest honor for a career in film was bestowed upon a composer when John Williams received the Life Achievement Award.

“John Williams has written the soundtrack to our lives,” said Sir Howard Stringer, chair of the AFI Board of Trustees. “Note by note, through chord and chorus, his genius for marrying music with movies has elevated the art form to symphonic levels and inspired generations of audiences to be enriched by the magic of the movies. AFI is proud to present him with its 44th Life Achievement Award.”

AFM Local 47 President John Acosta and composer John Williams. (Photos: Eleonora Ghioldi)

Williams’ storied career as the composer behind many of the greatest American films and television series of all time boasts over 150 credits across seven decades. Perhaps best known for his enduring collaboration with director Steven Spielberg, his scores are among the most iconic and recognizable in film history, from the edge-of-your-seat “Jaws” (1975) motif to the emotional swell of “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) and the haunting elegies of “Schindler’s List” (1993). Always epic in scale, his music has helped define over half a century of the motion picture medium. With five Academy Award wins and 49 nominations in total, Williams holds the record for the most Oscar nominations of any living person.

Williams was honored at a Gala Tribute at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on June 9. The televised special, “AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to John Williams,” aired on TNT June 15, followed by an encore presentation on sister network Turner Classic Movies Sept. 12 during a night of programming dedicated to Williams.