Recording Rap
New Use, new department…Our members like it!
Our dedicated Recording Department is already showing results. We are providing quicker response to so many more of our musicians, and we continue to be successful in establishing a long-overdue working relationship with many of the major record Labels. Even a major television network has taken notice that Local #655 is active in the Industry and aggressive in responding when compensation to our members is overdue.
Our on-going message of filing all recording dates under AFM Agreements (and how comparatively easy it is to do this) is starting to get through to everyone. More musicians are calling us for guidance and assistance, and some are even starting to call before the session! Even some of the independent producers have started to call us, because we are also able to provide assistance in budget planning.
Because new-use has been so lucrative, we have had many calls about cleaning up old record dates. Some members have admitted that their original service was paid in cash, either because the producer was a friend of theirs, or because they originally had no use for the Union. If you are not on the contract but everyone else is, you may want to reconsider your friendship...As for benefits of membership, new-use alone has shown that it is as smart for a musician to be a part of the AFM as it is for a songwriter to be a part of ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC.
For some clean-up requests, members have stated that they thought a union contract had been filed. If you truly believe that a contract has been filed but you don’t pay work dues for the gig, guess what!!! When in doubt, always call Lisa to confirm…We will be providing an outline of how we process phonograph recordings from session to payment. It will be available upon request after June 20th.
Latino Studio Musicians
We realize that it has been some time since our last article, and we know that everyone is getting impatient. However, in order to handle the issues successfully and to continue with our promise to protect your anonymity, we have had to move very carefully. We also need more input from you. We’ll be calling in the next few weeks...
From Lisa Fox
Boy, my new responsibility in servicing the recording musicians has been quite an eye opener. This position entails a heck of a lot more than giving out scales and distributing report forms. Most of my time is spent collecting money due our members working under recording agreements. Sometimes they’ve been short changed for the session itself, in which case I go after it (diplomatically but firmly). In other cases it’s for New Use or Re-Use of some kind.
In the past (particularly when the musicians have been short-changed) the Local had ignored this; now we have a full time Recording Department and it is a success. But the successes are only because musicians were on contracts filed with the Local.
With all of the various types of AFM recording agreements now available, there is no longer any reason why you too cannot enjoy these services. We’ve already talked about the Special Payments Fund, the Pension Fund, and the MPTF...
I can show you how easy it is to have all of your recording projects on AFM contracts. So give it a shot. Your call is confidential; you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Why turn down easily obtainable financial benefits (Special Payment Fund, Pension Fund, etc.) when it is so easy? Call me!
NEW POLICY for Electronic Media Work Dues
all electronic media checks will be mailed immediately to all members in good standing.
work dues are due within 15 days.
non-members & members not in good standing will be expected to pay fees in advance.
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