Musicians Will Enter Contract Talks With AMPTP

Billie Melissa
·2 min read

The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) will begin bargaining with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) for the film and motion picture contract.

They say, "Now it's our turn to negotiate a fair and sustainable contract for our members – just like our fellow unions WGA and SAG-AFTRA did."

Ahead of this, they will host a rally in front of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) headquarters in Sherman Oaks, CA, on January 22.

They will be joined by members and representatives from SAG-AFTRA, the Teamsters, IATSE, WGA and the LA County Federation of Labor as they fight back against the exploitation they have faced for over a decade in the industry.

They are fighting for three key things:

  • Recording musicians performing on soundtracks are making (75%) less on content premiering on streaming platforms. These musicians, like singers and actors, create unique performances that are captured in real time — yet, they are not being compensated accordingly for streaming media. This is because the entertainment industry has fundamentally shifted. Content now premieres primarily on streaming platforms rather than in movie theaters and on network television.

  • This shift has resulted in considerably less residual income for musicians, threatening our livelihoods. In essence, the talent bringing scores to life is being commoditized without a fair share of the considerable profits made by companies such as Disney, Paramount, Universal, and Warner Bros. This practice is neither fair nor sustainable.

  • Musicians, essential to the streaming economy, demand a fair contract which includes:

The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) is a labor union representing 70,000 professional musicians in the United States and Canada. Their members make music for film, television, commercials, and sound recordings.

The AFM also negotiate fair agreements, protects ownership of recorded music, secures benefits such as health care and pension, and lobbies for musicians and the rights of workers.

Chief negotiator and AFM President Tino Gagliardi said, "Music is what gives our favorite movies and shows their soul, and these workers expect and deserve to be treated fairly and given the contract they’ve earned. We are going into these negotiations in good faith, and we hope the AMPTP is doing the same."

The move comes just a few months after the historic strikes in Hollywood, which saw actors and writers take a stand for fair contracts and protections against AI.

The AFM's musical performance, rally and press conference will be held in front of the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers Headquarters in Sherman Oaks from 9am to 11am on January 22.