Today, the 2016 2016 AFM Western Regional Conference gets underway in Reno, Nevada. Stay tuned to this blog as Local 677 President Steve Pearson is a delegate to this conference and is in attendance. Mahalo!
Members sing both national anthems of the US and Canada to begin the 2016 WC
16:30 – Presentation by AFM Legislative, Political, and Diversity Director Alfonso Pollard gave an overview of the 2015 national programs that the AFM was working on and upcoming 2016 items for musician causes. Including:
- New Musical Instrument Carry-on Rules
- Performance Visa processing (O & P Visas)
- CITES International Treaty & Musical Passports for instruments
- HR 1733 Fair Play, Fair Pay Act
This last one is exciting as the AFM, along with other partners, successfully lobbied the US Department of Fish & Wildlife to obtain a “musical passport” for instruments that contain CITES-related materials.
15:58 – Motion made to dedicate the 2016 WC to the memory of Dick Gabriel, who served as the main director of EMSD for the AFM for several years. Seconded. Carried Unanimously.
13:30 – AFM International President Ray Hair delivered an excellent address to the WC delegates and guests. He gave an overview of how the AFM and locals work together to support each other and achieve common goals. He also addressed the convergence of media streams affecting musicians income.He also discussed the recently improved national agreements that address modern income streams. He also went on to say that there is a good chance that monies received from the updated media agreements should restore the following programs to pre-recession status. Including,
- AFM-EPF
- Sound Recording Special Payments Fund
- Music Performance Trust Fund
A screenshot from President Ray Hair’s presentation on digital music rights and revenue streams. He mentioned that the 2015 payout rate is closer to $40 million and that the numbers are increasing dramatically.
Sam Folio – AFM Secretary Treasurer at the WC 2016