How Will Musicians’ Credits and History Stand the Test of Digital Time?

ProMusicDB hopes to find the answer with the Internet Archive, AFM Local 47, & the Wrecking Crew

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by Christy Crowl

With all the media focus on how musicians and artists are not being fairly compensated for their work in the digital age, it is pretty easy to not ask the question on perhaps an even bigger long-term issue:  “How will musicians’ credits and history stand the test of Digital Time”?

Who is responsible in the digital domain for maintaining and archiving authenticated credits for musicians’ live and recorded performances, so that their story in history is told correctly? What about all the professional musicians’ websites – what entity is responsible for archiving the “history” on them, or making sure somewhere a digital copy is being kept in the case the site is no longer hosted or maintained?

InternetArchivelogoThese are questions that ProMusicDB, the Professional Music Database, is hoping to answer for the professional music community, in partnership with The Wrecking Crew, AFM Local 47, and the Internet Archive.

Utilizing technology developed by the Internet Archive primarily for the University Community, ProMusicDB launched its first trial today focusing on how to set the standard for preserving a professional musicians’ digital presence. Continue reading →

Final Note: Arnold Belnick

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Life Member. Violin
(9/7/1922 – 6/2/2015)

by Susan Chatman

Violinist Arnold Belnick, soloist and studio musician, made his transition in Granada Hills on June 2, 2015. He was 92 years old. A New York native and child prodigy since the age of 4, Arnold won his first major American competition at the age of 15 and played his concert debut in Town Hall. Hailed as a “young Joseph Sziget,” Arnold was a featured soloist with the New York Philharmonic and gained critical acclaim after he recorded for Columbia Records. Continue reading →

August 2015 Overture Online: ORGANIZE! Together We Win

August 2015 overture
Overture Online: August 2015

The Organizing Issue

AFM Local 47 has revved up our organizing efforts, and the results are in: TOGETHER WE WIN. Throughout this issue you’ll find stories of recent organizing successes, meet our new organizer, and learn more about the power of unity.

AB 1199:  Together We Can Bring More Music Jobs to CA
Musicians begin making the rounds to local state Senate offices; bill gains co-sponsor & another union endorsement

Let’s Get Organized!
Meet our new organizer, Merideth Cleary

LA County Fed Strike Sanctions
Strike sanctions filed against Cinema Scoring, Collective Media Guild, & Peter Rotter Music Services

The Truth About Fi-core
Facing fi-core coercion? Learn what you and your union can do about it

and more!

Read the Overture Online on your smartphone or tablet. Our FREE app is available from the Apple App Store & Google Play:
 

Overture Online is optimized for reading via smartphone or tablet. Those without access to a smart device may also access the new issue on a web browser (must have flash enabled).

Browse past issues here.

#TBT: A Great Day in L.A.

In this #TBT Throwback Thursday post, we take a look back to A Great Day in L.A.!

A GREAT DAY IN JAZZ HISTORY

Hundreds of Los Angeles jazz musicians create a contemporary version of the historic 1958 photo “A Great Day in Harlem”

It was “A Great Day in L.A.” indeed Oct. 12, 2008, when over 250 musicians gathered together to take part in a historic photo shoot for the world of jazz. Continue reading →

Musicians visit Sen. Connie Leyva to bring more jobs to CA

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On Monday morning, musicians in Los Angeles visited the office of state Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino) in support of AB 1199, a bill aimed at creating more film & TV music jobs in California.

AB 1199 is now in the Senate Governance & Finance Committee and will be picked up again in January. Musicians are utilizing this time to gear up for visits to local state senate offices to voice their support of this important bill.

Several more visits in other districts are in the works up and down the state. Many Los Angeles Local 47 members have already heard from Local 47 Organizer Merideth Cleary – and if you haven’t yet, you will soon!


Show your support – sign the petition!

To learn more about this important work, visit our AB 1199 blog. If you’d like to get involved, sign up for Local 47 Action Alerts or call Merideth at 323.993.3143 to stay posted to future developments on this and other news that affects California musicians.

 

NABET/CWA Local 53 supports AB 1199

nabet-logoSupport for AB 1199 keeps rolling in!

The National Association of Broadcast Employees & Technicians/CWA Local 53 joins a growing list of supporters for legislation to improve the CA Film/Tax Program for musicians. Authored by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, AB 1199 has the potential to bring thousands of music scoring jobs back to California.

To date, the bill is officially supported by:

  • National Association of Broadcast Employees & Technicians/CWA Local 53
  • American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
  • United Teachers of Los Angeles
  • United Food & Commercial Workers Local 770
  • The Recording Academy Los Angeles and San Francisco chapters
  • Society of Composers & Lyricists
  • American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers
  • Professional Musicians of California (AFM Locals CA Conference)
  • American Federation of Musicians Local 47
  • More than 420 petition signers

 

Show your support – sign our petition!
moveonab1199

 

Learn more about AB 1199 here, and sign up for Local 47 Action Alerts to stay posted to future developments on this and other news that affects California musicians.