Recording Rap
Musicians, Commercial Music & The AFM
...Callum Benepe, AFM EMSD
Is The Job For A "Covered" Employer?
The first thing one needs to know when hired to play on a
commercial, is whether or not the advertising agency is a current
"Signatory". All this means is that the agency has signed a
"Letter Of Adherence" with the AFM. By signing this simple form, the
agency obtains the right to make Pension and Health & Welfare
contributions on the musician’s behalf. Contrary to popular belief, the AFM
does not administer or control the Pension fund. The AFM-EP or American
Federation of Musicians Employee Pension is bound by Federal law to ensure
that each and every employer making Pension contributions is a Signatory to
the current Agreement.
If you are in charge of a music house, (a term used to
describe a recording studio that makes commercial music), just call the Local.
We’ll look up the agency and let you know if they’re a Signatory. If they’re
not, a short phone call to the employer can be made to explain the benefits
afforded the musician when the employer is a Signatory. I feel that these
benefits, especially the Pension contributions, are well worth the minimal
effort. The call can be made by the music house or myself, whichever the
musician or the agency is more comfortable with. The Letter of Adherance can
be faxed over to the employer, it’s signed, and we have a Signatory employer
within minutes! Another option is to have the music house become Signatory.
This gives the music house the freedom to work for any employer by paying the
musicians for the session themselves. The music house would then transfer
responsibility to the employer by filing an Assumption Agreement with the AFM’s
Commercial Department. This simple form will transfer responsibility for
additional payments from the music house to the employer. If you’re a
musician who is called for a job by a music house, just find out who the
advertiser is (Ford, Nissan, Apple Computer etc.) then call the AFM, and we’ll
let you know if everything’s in order.
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