How the Union is Stepping Up Its Justice for Jazz Artists! Campaign by Todd Bryant Weeks When we regard our AFM local with an unclouded eye, one of the things with which we must come to terms is the notion that despite our shared vision of a democratic, unbiased body that serves all of its …
Category Archive: Labor
J4JA! Update
Over 800 musicians have signed our Justice for Jazz Artists! (J4JA!) petition to get benefits in the NY area jazz clubs. Most have come in via the J4JA website, the Broadway pit orchestras, and a Constant Contact mailing from earlier this month. Many signatures have also been procured by musicians. Recent prominent signers include: Regina …
Fair Standards for NYC Music Clubs
While larger and more financially stable clubs and cabaret spaces offer reasonable compensation to performing musicians, there are a host of smaller venues that do not. The abuse ranges from notorious pay-to-play venues to those that charge for the use of sound equipment or require musicians to guarantee an audience. What can be done? What …
MusicFIRST Coalition for Broadcasting Royalties
The MusicFIRST Coalition is working hard to help pass legislation intended to provide long overdue royalty payments to recording artists. In December 2007, a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers sponsored legislation to force radio stations to pay record companies and performers for the music they air. Hal Ponder, the AFM’s Legislative Director in Washington, has …
802 Moves To Achieve Pension For Artists In NYC Jazz Clubs
On Thursday, October 16, the Local 802 Jazz Advisory Committee (JAC) met to address the union’s efforts to get pension contributions from NYC jazz clubs. A door tax forgiven by NY State in 2007 will provide the basis for pension contributions. In 2006-2007, the union collected over 200 signatures of prominent jazz musicians in support …
