Tag Archives: Local 802

AI

A Deep Dive Into How A.I. Affects Musicians

Commentary by Jerome Harris (MFM)

(Note: this is Jerome Harris’ submission for  Local 802’s A.I. series who has been a member of Local 802 since 1979. Sohrab who’s also a member of Local 802 read this article in ALLEGRO – the Local 802 digital publication of news, articles, and discussions about issues that are important for organized musicians – and got permission from Jerome to share it with the MFM community.)

When thinking about artificial intelligence from the perspective of those for whom music making is a livelihood, it’s useful to note a distinction. There are various forms of AI; the one that is most concerning for workers in creative fields is generative AI. This technology can assemble (“generate”) new material based on the patterns it finds in old material. This involves feeding vast amounts of digitized data — including recorded music — into powerful computer systems designed to analyze and isolate patterns. This is called “training” these AI systems. The systems can then be ordered to fabricate recordings based on those patterns, as specified by commands such as text-based prompts. Note that the underlying compositions and their recordings that are being used for AI training were created by humans and are owned by them or by business entities unless they are in the public domain.

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AI

MFM ZOOM Roundtable Discussion on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Music Industry

Musicians For Musicians (MFM) Presents “Music Is Essential” ZOOM Roundtable Discussion w. Adam Reifsteck, Barry Heyman, David Newhoff, Jerome Harris, and Roger Blanc on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Music Industry

Date: Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Time: 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. ET
Venue: ZOOM – Ticket: FREE

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Press rally: David Byrne speaking

New York Press Rally: Save the Arts!

Text, photos and videos by Dawoud Kringle

On Monday April 3rd, musicians, artists, actors, poets, and dancers assembled on the steps of City Hall to protest the attempt on the part of the Trump administration to destroy art and culture in the United States. This press rally “Save The Arts” was organized by Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer.

Press Rally with MFM's hashtag sign

Representatives of the Local 802 Musicians Union, The Actors Equity Association, Musicians for Musicians, Asian American Arts Alliance, and other music and arts organizations gathered at the steps of City Hall. David Byrne (Talking Heads), L. Steven Taylor (The Lion King), Ciara Renée (actress, singer, and musician) , The CEOs of the New York Public Library systems, Neil Shapiro of WNET, president of the Local 802 Tino Gagliardi, Brooklyn Council member Mark Trager, Bronx council member Andy King, Council Member Helen Rosenthal (Upper West Side), New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito and others spoke and shared their views on the dynamics and nuances of this important issue.

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Musicians rights: French production company KIDAM is cheating some of New York’s top jazz musicians

Dear DooBeeDoo readers and NY musicians!

I  think you should know about another new ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! case. This time musicians in NY are exploited by a French production company. The union organized a rally which we support and endorse. Please join the rally or distribute this announcement in your social networks.

Text by Ray Hair AFM International President

Dear Member:

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Victory! Winter Jazzfest musicians make historic gains…organizing matters!

As some of you may recall, musicians performing in the Winter Jazzfest and the Undead Music Festival came together and launched a grassroots effort in 2011 to improve wages and working conditions. Through that campaign, hundreds of musicians won real gains in the form of a collective bargaining agreement.

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