The AFM is extremely disappointed that the studios have walked away from negotiations with SAG-AFTRA. We feel the pain the AMPTP has caused for the members of SAG-AFTRA. Our members who make music for film, television, commercials, and sound recordings have also been largely excluded from the residuals from streaming projects that have been central to the demands […]
Labor Day is an occasion to honor and appreciate the tireless efforts and commitment of all laborers, including musicians. Although many of us think of the holiday as the unofficial end of summer, we should not forget its true significance—for generations, union members have been fighting to improve the lives of working people. This year, […]
In This Together — Sidney Hopson Advocates for More Equitable Music Spaces By Cherie Yurco, IM staff writer Talking to Sidney Hopson of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) on a Sunday afternoon, he’s slightly groggy and recovering from a marathon gig in Orange County playing Danny’s Elfman’s show “From Boingo to Batman to Big […]
The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada fully supports SAG-AFTRA in its ongoing negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The AFM represents the musicians that create the scores for motion picture and theatrical television as well as all aspects of live and recorded music. The two […]
The 102nd Convention of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada was held June 26 through June 29, 2023, at the Westgate Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The theme “In Unity, There Is Strength” was reflected in the various discourse among the delegates and echoed by many guest speakers. International […]
The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada has joined SAG-AFTRA, DGA, and IATSE in support of the Writers Guild of America and its ongoing negotiations for a new film and TV contract. “We support the writers represented by the Writers Guild of America West and the Writers Guild of America East in their […]
The AFM strongly opposes increasing O & P Visa fees as proposed by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The USCIS is very short-sighted in its proposal, as imposing such increases will vastly limit international touring and arts collaborations. In a letter sent February 8, 2023 to Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member […]
In early December, the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA), which would require AM/FM stations to pay performance royalties to featured artists, musicians, and vocalists for radio airplay, moved a step closer to passage as the House Judiciary Committee voted favorably to advance the bill. While the AMFA, ultimately, was not included in the final language […]
In the wake of the destruction caused by hurricanes Fiona and Ian, the AFM is offering assistance through its Emergency Relief Fund. Members in good standing who reside in or were employed as musicians in areas designated by FEMA as Federal Disaster Areas for Individual Assistance are encouraged to apply to the AFM Hurricane Relief […]
Congress moved a step closer to ending a decades-long injustice against music creators with today’s Senate introduction of the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA). The legislation, sponsored by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Alex Padilla (D-CA), would require broadcast corporations to pay performance royalties to creators for AM/FM radio plays. An identical bill (HR 4130) […]