Happy International Women’s Day! We honor & celebrate women in music whose artistry moves, encourages, and inspires.
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AFM Local 47 Executive Board Endorses Gavin Newsom for Governor
The American Federation of Musicians Local 47 Executive Board is proud to endorse Gavin Newsom for Governor of California.
Newsom earned a respectable track record as a supporter of working people during his two consecutive terms as mayor of San Francisco by guiding the city into economic stability by creating and enforcing progressive policies pushing for civil rights, environmental protections, and job creation. Continue reading
March 2018 Overture Online: Nevertheless She Persisted
Nevertheless She Persisted
National Women’s History Project honors women who fight all forms of discrimination
Women’s March 2018
Musicians Join Thousands at
Los Angeles Women’s March 2018
You’re Invited!
Save the Date for our Grand Opening event May 21
Keeping the Score in CA Update
Musicians visiting legislators to promote a music-scoring tax credit
and more!
The Overture Online app is available FREE @
Or click here to read the issue from your web browser.
Keeping the Score in CA: Tax Credit Committee Update
Musicians Chris Anderson-Bazzoli and Blake Cooper with Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo at a recent legislative visit in support of a California music-scoring tax credit.
Last year we had a bill, AB 1300 (Calderon), which was narrowly focused on modifying the existing Tax Credit Program to include a music-scoring tax credit.
This year, a new bill, AB 1734 (Calderon), aims to renew the entire Film and TV Tax Credit Program. We are working with Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon on how to include language in the overall renewal that will address the loss of jobs in the scoring industry. Continue reading
Save the Date: Local 47 Grand Opening Event May 21, 2018
Save the Date!
Please join us at our Grand Opening celebration to commemorate our new Burbank headquarters on the evening of Monday, May 21, 2018, from 5-8 p.m.
To learn about sponsorship opportunities, please email Karen Godgart at kgodgart@afm.org.
In Memoriam: March 2018
Walter C. Becker
Life Member. Bass
2/20/1950 – 9/3/2017
Survived by spouse & children
William Calkins
Life Member. Saxophone
9/28/1921 – 1/13/2018
Survived by spouse & son
Bill Hughes
Life Member. Copyist
10/31/1932 – 2/1/2018
Survived by family
Alvin M. Mills
Life Member. Violin
2/2/1922 – 9/19/2017
Survived by family
Dave Oyler
Life Member. Copyist
11/26/1945 – 1/2/2018
Survived by sister
W.Z. Taubenson
Life Member. Trumpet
2/16/1924 – 12/30/2017
Survived by friends
Miles F. Zentner
Life Member. Flute
10/26/1939 – 3/16/2017
Survived by spouse & children
Take action TODAY to save #NetNeutrality!
FEBRUARY 27, 2018: Today is the Operation: #OneMoreVote day of action to save net neutrality, and there needs to be a massive outcry from Americans across the country to stop Ajit Pai and the FCC from handing over control of the internet to companies like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T.
Despite enormous public opposition, the FCC’s repeal of net neutrality has officially been entered into the Federal Register. Now the Senate must act in the next 60 days to stop the repeal and save the internet or big cable companies will have the control over the internet they’ve always wanted.
What does this mean for the music industry?
As shared by Digital Music News:
Today, to make a living, you (or your band) may sell, distribute and promote your music. Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music may offer subsistence, but direct online sales of merchandise and concert tickets may offer a bigger payout.
If (and when) the FCC eliminates net neutrality rules, larger companies could easily lobby for “premium prioritization.” This means that consumers would have to pay more to access their favorite sites. Your website may not make the list.
Access to the internet could become a two-tiered system based solely on financial success.
American ISPs would likely sell consumers faster access to sites. Larger companies would quickly divert traffic away from smaller, independent websites that help musicians. Popular social media networks, including Facebook and Twitter, could easily charge musicians more to promote their music.
Independent musicians, DJs, producers, and bands, meanwhile, would face rapid marginalization. Major music labels could pay Facebook to promote big-name artists like Taylor Swift and Adele. Users on these platforms, and even on video services (YouTube, Vimeo), would constantly see ads for these big names.
Indie artists could face an uphill battle just to get noticed.
In the end, musicians would live the worst-case scenario: a lopsided music industry favoring the strong.
Net neutrality is too important to the future of our democracy to give up now. We cannot back down and we have a real shot at saving the internet if we band together and take action.
Take action right now to protect the future of the internet!
Memorial Services for Bill Hughes
#ListenLA Valentine’s Day playlist
Enjoy this Valentine’s Day playlist of today’s top love songs recorded with Los Angeles AFM Local 47 musicians, courtesy of #ListenLA:
47 Strong: Hitting the streets
From President John Acosta’s February 2018 report:
As we continue our “47 Strong” campaign, you will see an increased union presence in the workplace. From recording sessions to the theater pit, Local 47 reps are out and about connecting with our membership on the issues that are important to you.
While we tell you about the initiatives we are embarking upon – from music tax credits, to fair pay in live performances– it’s also important that we know what the union can do to help you on the job.
If you want to help us organize an event at your workplace, covering anything and everything that affects your work, please contact our Organizing Coordinator Jefferson Kemper: 323.993.3143, jefferson.kemper@afm47.org.