Sound Recording Special Payments Fund and Music Performance Trust Fund

Last week a subcommittee of our American Federation of Musicians SRLA caucus gathered in New York to meet with record label representatives. These meetings were mandated as part of the agreement that led to our successor Sound Recording Labor Agreement. We had serious discussions about the Sound Recording Special Payments Fund audit procedures and obligations. These audits are for money owed by record companies to both the Sound Recording Special Payments Fund and the Music Performance Trust Fund.

Your AFM team consisted of AFM President Ray Hair, IEB Officers Dave Pomeroy and Tino Gagliardi (Vince Trombetta had a scheduling conflict), Rank and FIle Representative Neil Stubenhaus and me. We were ably assisted and supported by EMSD Assistant Director Pat Varriale and attorneys Jeff Freund and Patricia Polach.

Representing the Sound Recording Special Payments Fund was Executive Director Rob DiPaola, with SPF Counsel Anne Mayerson.

No agreements were arrived at, and both parties agreed to meet later in the spring.

Mad Men

Mad Men, the hit Lionsgate TV show, is now scoring AFM. The gifted composer of the music for Mad Men, David Carbonara, has become a member of Local 47, and musicians are now getting health care contributions, pension contributions and appropriate pay for the scoring sessions.

Nashville

In another exciting development, Lionsgate is filming a pilot for a new TV series set in Nashville, Tennessee titled – surprise – “Nashville”, and they have agreed to score AFM as well. The AFM has set its sights on more shows, and more employment.
Stay tuned for more news…
Marc Sazer
President RMA