Wednesday, March 11, 10:00AM: The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) will hold a solidarity rally with live music in the heart of Times Square (43rd & Broadway / 1500 Broadway) on March 11. This demonstration of a "unified front" coincides with the second round of negotiations for the Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA) with record labels, including Sony, Universal, Hollywood Records, and Warner. Top demands for the musicians include fair wages and preventing A.I. from stealing from musicians’ creativity.
The AFM is calling on the public and all members of the creative community to rally with them at 1500 Broadway to support a sustainable future for the arts. Recording musicians are demanding a contract that protects human creativity from the encroachment of artificial intelligence and ensures their economic stability. By standing together, musicians, entertainment union members, and supporters of the arts aim to prevent major corporations from utilizing "divide and conquer" tactics. The outcome of these negotiations will set a precedent for how intellectual property and human performance are valued in a digital-first economy.
"Human creativity is the engine of the entertainment industry," says AFM International President Tino Gagliardi. "This rally is a powerful reminder to the labels that our membership is unified. We are fighting for a future where musicians have a decisive say in how their work is used, sampled, or imitated. To put it simply, musicians demand fair wages – and consent, compensation and credit when A.I. uses our creativity.” Click here to RSVP for the rally, and click here to show your support by signing AFM's petition.