Category Archives: Press Releases

Musicians #BandTogether at Kickoff Rallies in LA, NY in Contract Fight for New Media Residuals

Negotiations resume this month with film/TV producers

OCTOBER 7, 2019 — Today members of the American Federation of Musicians rallied from coast to coast as part of the musicians’ national grassroots #BandTogether campaign calling on film and TV producers to offer a fair contract that includes streaming residuals.

In Sherman Oaks, a large crowd gathered in the morning outside the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers headquarters, where bargaining resumed today, to perform live music and rally with leaders from entertainment unions including SAG-AFTRA and WGA West. In New York, a concurrent rally took place outside NBCUniversal headquarters at Rockefeller Center with Congressman Jerrold Nadler and AFM members. The rallies follow several public actions held in recent weeks in Nashville, New York and Los Angeles. Continue reading →

Musicians #BandTogether at Alex Theatre to Demand Fair Contract From Disney CEO Bob Iger

GLENDALE, CA (Oct. 2, 2019) — On Tuesday night more than 50 musicians held a flash-mob musical street performance outside of Disney CEO Bob Iger’s book signing event at the Alex Theatre as part of the grassroots #BandTogether campaign to demand that Disney and other major film and television studios improve standards for musicians’ work in new media. Continue reading →

Musicians Take to Disney D23 in Fight for Fair Contract

ANAHEIM, CA (August 26, 2019) — Musicians who record the scores for major motion pictures and television shows spent this weekend at the D23 Expo engaging with Disney fans, performing live music and sharing information about their grassroots #BandTogether campaign to win a fair contract for new media. Continue reading →

Over 100 Musicians Deliver Petition to AMPTP Headquarters Demanding Streaming Residuals for Film/TV

AFM members step up efforts to secure a fair contract

SHERMAN OAKS, CA (June 27, 2019) — Today more than 100 professional musicians who work in film and television held a press conference and delivered stacks of petition signatures to the entertainment industry’s major producers demanding a fair contract, including residuals, for new media.

Musicians marched to the front doors of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to hand-deliver hundreds of petitions signed by musicians who work in the industry, where studio representatives denied them entrance. “They are in this building and they are willing to deny us behind closed doors, but they will not do it in the open,” said musician and organizing committee member Jason Poss. “They will receive these petitions, even though they don’t want to receive them today. This is a victory. We have shown what is going on and they cannot hide from us any longer. This is just the beginning.” Continue reading →

Musicians Call on Film/TV Studios to Bargain Fair for Streaming Media

Studios’ refusal to provide New Media residuals threatens livelihood of musicians

LOS ANGELES, CA (March 13, 2019) — Today members of the American Federation of Musicians, AFL-CIO, held a press conference calling on the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to engage in fair contract negotiations and protect the future careers of professional musicians as the industry shifts to streaming and online distribution (aka “new media”). Continue reading →

Statement in support of UTLA from AFM Local 47

LOS ANGELES (January 14, 2019) — American Federation of Musicians Local 47 proudly stands with the thousands of brave workers who are striking for our communities, our families and our children.

Members of the United Teachers Los Angeles union are taking a stand to be treated with dignity and respect. The Los Angeles Unified School District is the second largest in the country, yet our schools are painfully underfunded, understaffed, and overcrowded. Continue reading →

Musicians Celebrate New Laws to Strengthen California Film & TV Music Industry

Chris Pierce (left) and Siddhartha Khosla (front right) perform with Rickey Minor and his band at the Keeping the Score in California kickoff concert at Los Angeles City Hall Aug. 19, 2017, in support of music tax credits. [File photo/Linda A. Rapka/AFM Local 47]

Newly inked state budget looks to bring music jobs back to the state

LOS ANGELES, CA (July 5, 2018) — Musicians and the entertainment industry celebrate a major victory with the update to California’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program that for the first time includes meaningful support for music-scoring jobs.

California has suffered an exodus of film and television music jobs for decades, and the state budget signed Monday by Gov. Jerry Brown gives the California Film Commission authority to create regulations that will have a significant impact in bringing these music jobs back home. In version 3.0 of the program, productions will now receive points based on how many music-scoring jobs will be created in California. These points don’t increase the incentive a production receives — they actually help a production qualify. Continue reading →

AFM Local 47 statement on Janus decision

Today’s disappointing Supreme Court decision in Janus v. AFSCME ruled in favor of a corporate interest power-grab over working Americans and their unions.

Wealthy special interest groups spent millions of dollars on this case with the express intent to diminish working people’s numbers in union representation. Breaking a precedent set over 40 years ago, public-sector workers who are not union members but are protected by a union contract are now told they do not have to pay their fair share. The goal was clear: to undercut unions’ abilities to effectively advocate and negotiate on behalf of their members, weaken their position at the bargaining table, and undermine all of organized labor — all at the expense of working people. Continue reading →

TV Musicians Demand Respect from the Networks

Audience members outside of “The Late Late Show With James Corden” taping at CBS Television Studios Dec. 6, 2017, support TV musicians and call on the networks to #RespectTheBand.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 7, 2017 – Musicians working on late-night, award, and other live television shows are calling on the networks to pay band members when they appear on YouTube and network websites.

“Other performers are all paid when Jimmy Kimmel Live! streams on YouTube or other online outlets, yet musicians are paid nothing. Musicians just want to be compensated for our likeness and our music,” said Cleto Escobedo III, Musical Director of Cleto and the Cletones. “I love Jimmy, the producers, and everyone we work with. We just need to make sure the networks treat us and ALL of our colleagues fairly.” Continue reading →

Pasadena Symphony Musicians Vote to Authorize Strike

Musicians of the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra in rehearsal Aug. 16, 2016.

LOS ANGELES (December 1, 2017) — Musicians of the Pasadena Symphony and POPS orchestras voted today by an overwhelming majority to authorize a strike, potentially halting concerts during the popular holiday season and into the New Year.

Musicians have been without a contract since September of 2015, when their last agreement expired. Ten years ago, when the orchestra faced financial uncertainty, the musicians did everything possible to ensure the orchestra’s survival: absorbing cost-saving cuts, forgoing raises for years, even playing without compensation. At the time, the Pasadena Symphony Association promised musicians that these cuts would be temporary. Current management has disavowed those commitments. Now, a decade after the crisis, Pasadena Symphony musicians have yet to reach an agreement that restores their generous concessions. Continue reading →