Because radio transcriptions, records and sound tracks make their continuous work unnecessary, 11,000 musicians are permanently unemployed and many more suffer, but not in silence, sporadic layoffs. Long an opponent of "canned" music, author of the first ban on recordings without union sanction was James C. Petrillo, surly boss of the Chicago branch of the American Federation of Musicians. Petrillo's ban lost Chicago musicians $125,000 worth of record and radio dates with radio city christmas spectacular tickets, but it made Petrillo a Labor hero (TIME, Jan. 4). That he would urge national adoption of the record ban was a foregone conclusion at the recent A. F. of M. convention in Louisville (TIME, June 21). Possibly because he felt the time was ripe, possibly because he sensed his own militancy was under question, Joseph N. Weber, national president of the Federation for 37 years, plumped heavily for Petrillo's plan, gave a special committee 30 days to prepare the attack. Last week President Weber called representatives of radio, cinema and record companies to deliberate with A. F. of M. officials in Manhattan, made sure they would come by threatening a nation-wide musicians' strike August 14 in case the parley failed. (Reported by TIME) ECW Tickets

In a defeat for recording musicians who did not believe their residual payments from recording sessions should be subject to AFM work dues, U.S. District Court judge Andrew Guilford has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Los Angeles recording musicians Rafael Rishik, Keith Green and Stephen Erbody.

The musicians alleged in their lawsuit that the AFM had no right to impose a 2% work dues tax on approximately 1,000 musicians who earn more than $2,500 annually in special payments from the Sound Recording Special Payments Fund and the Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund, which includes wages paid to musicians for reuse and new-use fees for music for film and television.

The judge granted the AFM’s motion to dismiss the case, while giving the recording musicians until August 17 to file an amended complaint if they choose to do so.

The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) is the largest organization of its type in the world. It represents over 100,000 members that are serviced by more than 250 Locals in every geographical area of North America. AFM musicians perform all kinds of music for all kinds of events.

Whether it's cheap trans siberian tickets live entertainment for a wedding, corporate event, concert, fair, night club, or ANY other function, insist on the quality and professionalism that only AFM members can deliver. Members use industry standard AFM approved contracts to clearly define the terms of the engagement. An AFM contract is your guarantee that you will get the music you want at the price, date and time you want it. Once signed, the AFM musician is obligated to honor the contract and so is the purchaser. It's truly a "win win" situation!