As Congress debates how to avoid the looming “fiscal cliff,” tax incentives for charitable contributions hang in the balance. Policymakers are considering a wide range of proposals to reduce the tax incentive for charitable giving – including capping the dollar amount allowable for all itemized tax deductions, or reducing the rate of deductibility – in an effort to generate new federal revenue. This would impact the tax deduction for charitable giving.

Your participation is needed to help Congress understand that limiting the charitable deduction would harm the arts in many ways. Please CLICK HERE to contact your Members of Congress today<> to urge them to preserve charitable giving incentives as the tax reform debates continue. Tell them how charitable contributions support the unique, essential services your orchestra provides in your community.

Thank you for your participation!
Hal Ponder
Director of Government Relations
American Federation of Musicians

On Nov. 8th, 2012, a peaceful march was organised in Yaoundé by the Musicians Union of Cameroon, in order to protest against the Port of Douala’s reiterated refusal to pay copyright royalties to artists. This demonstration was harshly repressed by the police forces on instructions of the General Delegate to the national security. Artists walked about 3 kilometers before they started to be brutally assaulted and beaten.

More than 500 artists including Anne-Marie Nzié (pictured – aged 85) and the SYCAMU President, Roméo DIKA (who is also Vice-President of the International Federation of Musicians), were dragged to the ground and beaten with batons and fists. 63 of them were thrown into jail and only released after more than seven hours of detention. The others were transported in trucks and locked up for more than 10 hours. Romeo Dika is now accused by some media to have prepared an insurrection, and may be sentenced by life imprisonment or receive the death penalty.
Sign Petition

Los Angeles and New York (October 27, 2011) —- The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) alerted members of their respective unions about SiriusXM’s “direct license” deal, which would set up independent labels to pay a performer’s share to the copyright owner – the independent record label – rather than the performer.
Read On

(New York, NY) A three-judge panel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has affirmed that the Musical Arts Association (MAA), which runs The Cleveland Orchestra, violated federal labor law by refusing to bargain with the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) regarding terms and conditions of employment related to electronic media productions. The NLRB rejected MAA’s argument that it had complied with the law by making media proposals to AFM Local 4 (the Federation’s affiliated local in Cleveland). The NLRB affirmed Administrative Law Judge Eric M. Fine’s earlier finding that having signed media agreements with the Federation for many years, MAA was not free to shift media negotiations to a local basis.

My wife, Mary Louise, is a professional musician….so we know firsthand how musicians struggle to make a living, while giving pleasure to thousands. I am aware of the concerns Denver’s professional musicians have in the face of orchestral budget cuts, and I look forward to working with you to ensure that Denver’s fine musicians command the compensation they deserve. As Mayor, I will initiate discussions, locally and regionally, to review arts and culture public funding policies, to ensure that fair competitive practices are maintained.
Read On

Professional musicians should know that I’m a strong supporter of a vibrant arts and cultural community. I also recognize that commercial and nonprofit music industries are invaluable assets that provide considerable economic impact. DMA members are responsible for creating this economy, so it’s only fitting that this same economy must provide and grow employment opportunities for professional musicians. If elected Mayor, I can assure you that a strong partnership between the City of Denver, the Arts and related music industries will continue and grow.
Read On

Professional musicians continue to suffer substantial loss of income because of SCFD’s non-competitive practices while taxpayer dollars are irresponsibly damaging our economy. In his May 3 letter to me, SCFD board Chair James Harrington defends that SCFD is creating jobs and meeting its statutory requirements. My May 5 response to Mr. Harrington states my position as I’ve stated for 15 years … that none of this is true.

The Senate FAA reauthorization bill (S. 223) includes language that allows any instrument to be carried on board as long as it can be stored safely in an overhead bin or under the seat. The House version of this bill, H.R. 658, also contains provisions for musical instruments to be carried on board as long as they can be stored safely, but adds the qualifier that the instruments must be stowed “in accordance with the requirements for carriage of carry-on baggage or cargo set forth by the Administrator.” Because of this difference, it is important that the Senate language be included in the final bill. Read On

Congress and the President have finally reached a deal to fund the government through the end of FY2011, avoiding a government shutdown when the latest short-term continuing resolution expired on April 8. Although the budget deal implements an addition $38 billion in cuts, AFM is relieved to see that arts funding was not impacted as severely as expected:

The National Endowment for the Arts will be funded at $155 million, which represents a 7% cut from its FY10 appropriation of $167.5 million. The Arts in Education program, which had been eliminated in the short-term spending bills, was restored as part of the Fund for Improvement of Education and is expected to receive an appropriation of $25 million. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which is appropriated two years in advance, will receive $430 million for FY11, and then $445 million for FY12 and FY13. Provisions to defund health care reform and to block the FCC from implementing net neutrality rules were both eliminated from the final bill.

Gulf Coast RecOILs from Bad Pollution
by Ken Davies

It wasn’t that long ago (2005) when hurricane Katrina washed an average of six blocks of buildings off the entire 80 mile coast of Mississippi. We’ll still be rebuilding for another ten years while also recovering from insurance extortion, Wall Street bailouts and its effects on home values, and now recOILing from the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. Thanks to BP, our “Redneck Riviera” is moving toward becoming a “Wretched Riviera.”

It has all been like a horror movie unfolding ever so slowly. Anxiety and despair mount daily as one awaits each next troubling physical, chemical, economic, social or political creature to emerge from this lagoon. You can follow local Mississippi news headlines at http://www.sunherald.com/oilspill/. Disturbing are the pictures of shores and marshes soaked with oil. These will take generations to recover just like the Alaskan shores, which have still not recovered from Exxon Valdez. There are confirmed reports of BP, sometimes with official assistance, preventing journalists and photographers from gaining access to the areas. But they got there anyway. Heart breaking are the photos and videos of oil covered wildlife struggling to escape the slimy muck. Over 350 pictures of Gulf oil devastation and its effects can be seen at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/30/louisiana-oil-spill-2010_n_558287.html. There has also been such an abundance of political finger pointing and side-taking across the media that folks outside this area are starting to forget that not only hundreds of thousands of residents are being adversely affected, but also 11 oil rig workers were killed out there because BP took shortcuts on safety.

Not Charlie Crist, though! This U.S. Senate candidate just blundered right in and grabbed Talking Heads band member David Bryne’s song “Road To Nowhere” for an advertisement and thus got himself sued for a cool $1 million. Meanwhile Crist’s opponent, Marc Rubio, stole a Steve Miller song for his own campaign. Gosh! Are there any Florida senate “contestants” who aren’t arts copyright crooks?

Over the past three weeks I surveyed candidates for current Colorado US Senator Michael Bennet’s seat regarding their position on the Employee Free Choice Act. I contacted each candidate twice except for Andrew Romanoff, whose campaign staff responded immediately. Here are the results:

The legislative session was fruitful for arts advocates this year. In January, Governor Ritter announced a package of three pieces of legislation to target the creative sector as a strategy for economic growth. All three bills have passed the House and Senate and now await the Governor’s signature. The Governor’s Office is working to schedule a bill signing event during the week of May 3, which will likely be held at the Art Institute of Colorado.

On Tuesday, April 27, American Federation of Musicians (AFM) President Thomas F. Lee joined AFTRA President Roberta Reardon, AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka, House Committee on Education and Labor Chairman George Miller (D-CA), House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI), House Representative Bob Brady (D-PA), and musician and composer Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary at the Committee on Education and Labor Hearing Room to outline a new mobilization effort aimed at building support for workers’ rights for performers.

What: Rally to bring Main Street to Wall Street
When: Thursday April 29, 2010 at 1 pm
Where: Wells Fargo Bank (17th & Lincoln) Denver
Join us and show your support for financial regulation!

Susan K. Shepherd has received the endorsement of the Denver Area Labor Federation. Ballots must be received by May 4, 2010. If you’re a resident of District 1, please get out and vote!

“I am proud to stand up for ALL working families in Denver City Council District 1. I am pleased to be endorsed by the Denver Area Labor Federation and the Teamsters Local 17.”
Susan K. Shepherd
Candidate for Denver City Council District 1

On behalf of the membership of American Federation of Musicians Local 1000, I want to extend our condolences to the families of the miners lost in the disaster at the Upper Big Branch Mine (UBB) in Montcoal, West Virginia. The twenty-five miners who lost their lives, the four still missing, their families, and their entire community are in our prayers and in our thoughts.

Recently while appearing on “Face the Nation”, you stated the following about the current Healthcare Reform Bill: “Though I don’t know exactly what’s in it, from what I hear, I certainly would have a hard time voting for it because it has some of the same infirmities that the public option did.” Senator Lieberman, I am embarrassed for you.

The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) is a union and the largest organization in the world dedicated to representing the interests of professional musicians.

You don’t have to be a union member or professional musician to help fight for musicians. If you care about music and musicians, you can join Friends of AFM. Friends of AFM will help you keep informed and speak up on important issues. JOIN Friends of AFM!
Join the AFM’s GetActive e-mail list

The Performance Rights Act (S. 379) was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. This legislation ensures that for the first time musicians will receive royalties when their songs are played over terrestrial AM/FM radio, just as they now receive royalties when their songs are played on satellite, internet, and cable radio.

While AFM strongly supports the Chairman’s efforts to see that network neutrality regulations are passed by the FCC, AFM hopes that the Chairman will also focus on the need to address Internet piracy. It is important to AFM that the FCC not unintentionally limit the ability of ISPs, content creators or the federal government to protect copyrighted content traversing the Internet.

“Protecting copyrighted content is not antithetical to network neutrality and ensuring that the Internet remains open, neutral and free. AFM hopes to work with the Commission to see that both principles are enshrined in their regulations.”

Speaking before a cheering crowd, President Obama told AFL-CIO
delegates that he shares the union movement’s goals for quality
health care, freedom to form unions and a strong economy—and
together we’ll achieve them. Live Coverage

Giant insurance companies have created a health care system that costs too much, covers too little and excludes too many. Congress has to stand up for working families and stand up to insurance companies.
Put Working Families First
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At a Portsmouth, N.H., town hall meeting, President Obama set
the record straight on the health care reform proposal. Get the
real facts here: Health reform facts

Gene Davis, Denver Daily News Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Rep. Betsy Markey, D-Fort Collins, yesterday sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other leading lawmakers urging them to delay consideration on legislation that would force AM and FM stations to pay performers for the music they play until “the full impact of (the) legislation is more thoroughly understood.” …

… Martin Machowsky [Music First] pointed out that artists and musicians are compensated when their music is played on the Internet, satellite radio and cable television music channels, just not when it’s played on AM and FM radio.

“Radio alone enjoys this advantage,” he said. “We got this huge loophole in copyright law and (radio stations) don’t want to give it up.” Complete Story

Editor’s Note: DMA President Pete Vriesenga is taking an informal survey before speaking directly with Representatives Markey and DeGette. Rep. Markey is opposed and Rep. DeGette has not yet committed. Please send a message to them by clicking on the following link:
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S. Con Res. 14 and H. Con. Res. 49, the broadcasters’ resolution, asserts that requiring radio to pay royalties to performers to use their property, as they do songwriters, would hurt small broadcasters. In May, the House Judiciary Committee passed a bill (by an overwhelming majority of 21-9) that established a mere nominal payment by small and noncommercial broadcasters. The vast majority of rural, minority, religious and educational broadcasters will only have to pay this nominal amount, which cannot go up without an act of Congress. In the bill:

New York, NY – The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) applauds the release of the House of Representatives bill, (H.R. 3200), “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act,” a real step forward in fixing America’s failing health care system. We appreciate the dedication of the House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor Committees and Chairmen Rangel, Waxman and Miller in producing this single measure for committee consideration to ensure reform efforts move forward quickly.

On June 4th Governor Ritter signed House Bill 1010, which recreates the Film Commission as a state agency within the Colorado Office of Economic Development effective July 1st.

“Movie production is a fantastic source of economic growth for the communities where these films are made,” said Sen. Gibbs. “By encouraging more films to be made in Colorado we will stimulate our economy, get more Coloradans to work, and grow more Colorado businesses.

Washington, D.C. – Today the House Judiciary Committee approved the Performance Rights Act (H.R. 848). The Bill will close a loophole in copyright law that allows music radio stations to earn billions of dollars each year without compensating the artists, musicians and rights holders who record the music and bring listeners to the stations.

Amy Brenneman and Esai Morales are among 47 popular performing artists speaking out on behalf of the Employee Free Choice Act in a dynamic new video. Please take a moment to state your support on behalf of your business, band or ensemble by filling out a declaration form and returning a copy to the Denver Musicians Association.

The Employee Free Choice Act Will:
Restore workers’ freedom to make their own decision about how to join together to bargain for better benefi ts and fair wages.

Create real penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights.

Provide mediation and arbitration to help workers and employers come to agreement on a first contract.

Dear Senator Bennet,

I strongly encourage you to immediately endorse the Employee Free Choice Act. Yesterday I attended the town hall meeting held at the IBEW Local 68 offices.

The Denver Musicians Association has endorsed the Employee Free Choice Act, as evidenced by a unanimous vote of support at our March 30 membership meeting. Now, Senators have a simple choice to make about the Employee Free Choice Act. Will they side with your and all America’s workers, or will they side with Big Business?

Corporate leaders are making a lot of unfounded claims that the Employee Free Choice Act would be bad for small businesses. But when you ask many small business owners and entrepreneurs across the country, you’ll hear a different story. They understand the Employee Free Choice Act will help create a stronger economy, with a better-trained workforce and a more economically stable customer base. Click here for Q&A sheet on the Employee Free Choice Act

Yesterday, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) was one of the first agencies in the federal government to release grant guidelines for applying for economic stimulus and job recovery arts funds. As you may recall, the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act signed by President Obama on
February 17, 2009 provided $50 million to support jobs in the arts through NEA grants.

On Tuesday, March 3rd, members of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) will fly in from across the country to Washington on Tuesday to lobby Congress for a full performance right in sound recordings broadcast over AM/FM radio. They will lobby members of both the House and Senate from their home states, asking for support of the Performance Rights Act, H.R. 848 and S.379 (formerly H.R. 4789 and S.2500).

Artists and musicians are compensated when their music is played on satellite, cable and internet radio. Due to a loophole in copyright law, AM and FM radio receives a free pass to broadcast the performances of every artist and musician every day without providing fair compensation.

“In these troubled economic times, it is more important than ever that the U.S. government take meaningful steps to ensure that the most competitive parts of the U.S. economy—those that contribute to positive balance of trade payments—can effectively compete in global markets without facing unfair competition…Unfortunately, the piracy of America’s creative genius by certain elements in other countries—particularly Internet-driven infringements—are drawing us towards life without music. Or perhaps more accurately, life without the capacity to sustain the livelihoods of those Americans who earn a living through the creation of music.”

The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM), in support of the concept of network “net” neutrality, has joined Future of Music Coalition’s Rock the Net campaign and Free Press’ Internet for Everyone initiative. The Internet allows music and musicians to flourish and must be kept open and neutral. At the same time, the music that is carried over the Internet must be protected from copyright infringement.

The House of Representatives approved their final version of the Economic Recovery bill by a vote of 246-183. We can now confirm that the package DOES include $50 million in direct support for arts jobs through National Endowment for the Arts grants. President Obama plans to sign the bill on Monday – President’s Day.

“The overwhelming majority of performers are not rich, but hardworking men and women trying to make a living,” said AFM President Tom Lee. “A source of income is being denied to these men and women by over-the-air AM/FM radio, which gets its advertising revenue and listeners from the popularity of their recorded music. The Performance Rights Act would give performers a fair recognition of the value their work brings to radio.

WASHINGTON, DC, January 13, 2009—Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America, announced today its policy recommendations to President-elect Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress, as they begin consideration of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. The nine recommendations detail how existing federal programs, as well as new proposals, can provide critical support to the country’s arts, as well as economic infrastructure.

“On behalf of our 90,000 members, the AFM urges President-elect Obama to appoint Michael Dorf to the position of Chairman of the NEA in the very near future,” said Thomas F. Lee, AFM international president. “After reviewing Mr. Dorf’s background in the arts, his accomplishments in support of the arts, and his ability to mobilize organizations to support the arts as he did in his native Chicago and elsewhere, the AFM believes that he will best be able to lead the NEA during this difficult time in our nation’s history.

Quincy Jones has started a petition to ask President-Elect Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts. While many other countries have had Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, The United States has never created such a position. We in the arts need this and the country needs the arts—now more than ever. Please take a moment to sign this important petition and then pass it on to your friends and colleagues.
Sign Petition

by James Parks, Dec 18, 2008
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney today praised President-elect Obama’s reported plan to appoint Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) as secretary of labor. In a statement, Sweeney says: We’re confident that she will return to the Labor Department one of its core missions—to defend workers’ basic rights in our nation’s workplaces.

Myth No. 1: Nobody buys the vehicles of the Big 3
Reality: GM, Ford and Chrysler sold 8.5 million vehicles in the United States last year. GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the United States last year and holds a lead over Toyota of nearly 700,000 so far this year.
Myth No. 2: Their cars are built poorly:
Reality: The creaky, leaky vehicles of the 1980s and ’90s are long gone. Consumer Reports recently found that “Ford’s reliability is now on par with good Japanese automakers.”
Myth No. 3: They build gas-guzzlers:
Reality: All of the Detroit Three build midsize sedans that the Environmental Protection Agency rates at 29-33 miles per gallon on the highway.

Click subject heading above to keep reading

Last night, the Senate failed to cut off debate and vote on the House-passed $14 billion emergency bridge loan to the nation’s automakers. After the vote, the UAW made it clear it is still willing to go the extra mile to rescue the nations’ auto industry.

The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) is disappointed by the Federal Communications Commission’s recent decision to open the television “white spaces” – the frequencies in between television stations – for use by unlicensed, mobile Internet devices. The final order has not yet been released, however, it is reported that the decision relies on unproven, unreliable technology to ensure that these devices do not interfere with wireless microphones.

It’s Time to Restore Workers’ Freedom to Form Unions. The Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800, S. 1041), supported by a bipartisan coalition in Congress, would level the playing field for workers and employers and help rebuild America’s middle class.

If you like to learn more about the Act, please follow this
Link to the AFL-CIO’s information center.

“The business community has joined with labor to oppose three proposals targeting unions: Right to Work (Amendment 47), Paycheck Protection (Amendment 49) and Sole Sourcing (Amendment 54). They have pledged to raise $3 million for the campaigns against those measures. That funding will be collected by a pro-business issues committee, which will approve the way it is spent.”

Where do the presidential candidates stand on arts funding? That’s a tricky question, since the U.S. Senate no longer casts votes on allocations for the National Endowment for the Arts, the public agency that’s the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts. Since 2000, the issue has been voted on only in the House.

Complete Story

PRESIDENT
President- Barack Obama

UNITED STATES SENATE
Senator- Mark Udall (D)

CONGRESSIONAL RACES
CD 1- Diana DeGette (D)
CD 2- Jared Polis (D)
CD 3- John Salazar (D)
CD 4- Betsy Markey (D)
CD 5- Hal Bidlack (D)
CD 6- Hank Eng (D)
CD 7- Ed Perlmutter (D)

Click on the link above for the complete list of endorsements

Click on the link above for AFL-CIO President John Sweeney’s op-ed piece in The Hill newspaper on the need to pass the PRO-IP Bill (H.R. 4279) and “The Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Act” (S.3325). The AFM worked with the AFL-CIO to have this op-ed placed in the paper.

Our nation’s creativity has filled the world’s libraries, museums, recital halls, movie houses, and marketplaces with works of genius. The arts embody the American spirit of self-definition. As the author of two best-selling books – Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope – Barack Obama uniquely appreciates the role and value of creative expression.

Click link above for the Obama/Biden Platform in Support of the Arts.

A “Right-to-Work” for less initiative (Amendment 47) slated for the November Ballot is as deceptive in name as its proponents: “A Better Colorado.” They claim that “Amendment 47 will strengthen Colorado’s economy, create jobs and make our state more competitive,” but nothing could be further from the truth. Average annual earnings for workers in right-to-work states are $5,333 less than their counterparts in free-bargaining states.
Continue reading to access Survey.

For the past several years, flight attendants, pilots and other airline workers have sacrificed pay, benefits and working conditions through a long series of bankruptcies, restructurings, mergers, layoffs and threatened liquidations. And on Thursday, airline unions told Congress workers must have a voice at the table when the biggest merger in the industry is being discussed.

Artists representing over 15 countries petitioned Congress to close a loophole in U.S. law and grant artists, musicians and record labels a right to be compensated when their music is played on FM and AM radio. No other free-market nation in Europe or North America fails to pay broadcast royalties to artists and performers.
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