The American Federation of Musicians has voted to ratify its new contract with the major studios, which provides for streaming residuals and protections from artificial intelligence.
The union represents musicians who perform on TV and movie scores or who appear on screen. Following 12 days of negotiations in January and February, it reached a tentative deal on Feb. 23. The agreement largely tracks with the provisions won by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA during their strikes last year.
“This agreement is a monumental victory for musicians who have long been under-compensated for their work in the digital age,” said Tino Gagliardi, the union’s international president, in a statement.
On AI, the union got a stipulation that musicians are human beings. The agreement allows AI to be used to generate a musical performance, with payment to musicians whose work is used to prompt the AI system.
“AI will be another...
The union represents musicians who perform on TV and movie scores or who appear on screen. Following 12 days of negotiations in January and February, it reached a tentative deal on Feb. 23. The agreement largely tracks with the provisions won by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA during their strikes last year.
“This agreement is a monumental victory for musicians who have long been under-compensated for their work in the digital age,” said Tino Gagliardi, the union’s international president, in a statement.
On AI, the union got a stipulation that musicians are human beings. The agreement allows AI to be used to generate a musical performance, with payment to musicians whose work is used to prompt the AI system.
“AI will be another...
- 4/2/2024
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
As the American Federation of Musicians and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers resumed contract negotiations Wednesday, the AFM has released statistics that shed light on the changing nature of employment for industry musicians who play on many of the films and TV shows now being made.
When a film or TV show that features AFM musicians makes it to a secondary market — airing on broadcast or cable, released on home video, or even transitioning to a streaming service — that triggers a residual payment to actors, writers, directors and craftspeople, essentially sharing in the profits of a successful project.
But the studios have steadfastly resisted granting musicians a residual payment for original series, movies and other programs that are made specifically for streaming services. It’s a key demand, along with protections against the use of AI, that the AFM is making in this round of negotiations, which began Jan.
When a film or TV show that features AFM musicians makes it to a secondary market — airing on broadcast or cable, released on home video, or even transitioning to a streaming service — that triggers a residual payment to actors, writers, directors and craftspeople, essentially sharing in the profits of a successful project.
But the studios have steadfastly resisted granting musicians a residual payment for original series, movies and other programs that are made specifically for streaming services. It’s a key demand, along with protections against the use of AI, that the AFM is making in this round of negotiations, which began Jan.
- 2/21/2024
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
The American Federation of Musicians will soon go into contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers with asks that cover many of the same subjects as actors and writers.
The negotiations are set to take place on Jan. 22 through Jan. 31, excluding the weekend, with a rally planned for the first day of talks in front of the AMPTP headquarters. The contract under discussion, which covers musicians working on dramatic TV and film scoring, was originally set to expire in November, but was extended by six months amid the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
The priorities for AFM include gaining residuals on streaming, wage increases and health care improvements and protections against AI. The AI protections encompass “taking the AI protections that SAG-AFTRA has been advocating for in terms of protecting likenesses and expanding that to include music,” said Marc Sazer, vice president of AFM Local 47, adding that...
The negotiations are set to take place on Jan. 22 through Jan. 31, excluding the weekend, with a rally planned for the first day of talks in front of the AMPTP headquarters. The contract under discussion, which covers musicians working on dramatic TV and film scoring, was originally set to expire in November, but was extended by six months amid the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
The priorities for AFM include gaining residuals on streaming, wage increases and health care improvements and protections against AI. The AI protections encompass “taking the AI protections that SAG-AFTRA has been advocating for in terms of protecting likenesses and expanding that to include music,” said Marc Sazer, vice president of AFM Local 47, adding that...
- 1/12/2024
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Marc Sazer, a violinist and longtime union activist, has been elected vice president of L.A.’s American Federation of Musicians Local 47. He succeeds Rick Baptist, who resigned from the post in November after seven years on the job. The local gave no reason for his resignation.
In a special election, Sazer defeated Bonnie Janofsky and Kirstin Fife. Janofsky, who continues to serve on the union’s board as a trustee, had been appointed by the local’s executive board to serve as interim vice president until the special election could be held.
“I am both honored and thrilled to be able to serve our diverse and extraordinarily talented community of AFM musicians,” Sazer said. “Our musicians are both the backbone of our Southern California’s cultural equity and an integral part of the economic engine of our region.”
Sazar now serves as vice president alongside President Stephanie O’Keefe and Secretary/Treasurer Danita Ng‐Poss,...
In a special election, Sazer defeated Bonnie Janofsky and Kirstin Fife. Janofsky, who continues to serve on the union’s board as a trustee, had been appointed by the local’s executive board to serve as interim vice president until the special election could be held.
“I am both honored and thrilled to be able to serve our diverse and extraordinarily talented community of AFM musicians,” Sazer said. “Our musicians are both the backbone of our Southern California’s cultural equity and an integral part of the economic engine of our region.”
Sazar now serves as vice president alongside President Stephanie O’Keefe and Secretary/Treasurer Danita Ng‐Poss,...
- 2/3/2022
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
With a projected $32 million loss in wages for canceled scoring dates because of Covid-19, the Los Angeles music community is gearing up for the return of film and TV recording — but cautiously, under strict guidelines.
Yet, musicians say, not everyone is prepared to go back to work in groups, given the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic.
The mid-March lockdown led to “catastrophic job losses,” says American Federation of Musicians Local 47 president John Acosta, and while the remote-recording process – in which musicians record their parts at home for blending into a full score by composers and mixers – has solved some post-production dilemmas, it’s far from ideal.
The re-opening of scoring stages in Vienna, Berlin and London worries American union officials, who are hopeful that modified operation of recording facilities will encourage a return to film and TV scoring in L.A. and limit the number of jobs that go outside the U.
Yet, musicians say, not everyone is prepared to go back to work in groups, given the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic.
The mid-March lockdown led to “catastrophic job losses,” says American Federation of Musicians Local 47 president John Acosta, and while the remote-recording process – in which musicians record their parts at home for blending into a full score by composers and mixers – has solved some post-production dilemmas, it’s far from ideal.
The re-opening of scoring stages in Vienna, Berlin and London worries American union officials, who are hopeful that modified operation of recording facilities will encourage a return to film and TV scoring in L.A. and limit the number of jobs that go outside the U.
- 6/20/2020
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Studio musicians, who begin negotiations on a new contract with producers today, are seeking something they have never had: residual payments for programs made specifically for streaming platforms.
American Federation of Musicians (Afm) officials gained support from fellow show-business unions SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America at a rally attended by about 100 this morning outside the offices of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) in Sherman Oaks, Calif.
The Afm has long enjoyed residual payments for playing on movie scores. Those musicians currently playing on John Williams’ score for “Star Wars IX,” for example, will see residual payments when that film goes to DVD and cable. But those who are playing on the sessions for another “Star Wars” project, “The Mandalorian,” currently being made for the Disney+ streaming service, will not.
Speakers at the rally repeatedly cited the unfairness of the musicians’ situation, considering actors,...
American Federation of Musicians (Afm) officials gained support from fellow show-business unions SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America at a rally attended by about 100 this morning outside the offices of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) in Sherman Oaks, Calif.
The Afm has long enjoyed residual payments for playing on movie scores. Those musicians currently playing on John Williams’ score for “Star Wars IX,” for example, will see residual payments when that film goes to DVD and cable. But those who are playing on the sessions for another “Star Wars” project, “The Mandalorian,” currently being made for the Disney+ streaming service, will not.
Speakers at the rally repeatedly cited the unfairness of the musicians’ situation, considering actors,...
- 10/7/2019
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Looks like the musicians aren’t as mad at Lionsgate any more: the American Federation of Musicians has reached an agreement with Lionsgate, producers of AMC’s Mad Men. “We are pleased to have begun a relationship with Lionsgate that will bring fairness to musicians in its television production of Mad Men,” Afm president Ray Hair told The Hollywood Reporter. The deal will see the musicians receiving union wages, residuals and pension and health benefits. “And,” said union official Marc Sazer, “(they’ll) be getting something else that was overdue – respect, and an acknowledgement of the dignity accorded to professional
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- 2/26/2012
- by Jonathan Handel
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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