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About Us

FMC | FMC Events | AFM | New York State Music Fund

About FMC

Future of Music Coalition is a national non-profit education, research and advocacy organization that identifies, examines, interprets and translates the challenging issues at the intersection of music, law, technology and policy. FMC achieves this through continuous interaction with its primary constituency - musicians - and in collaboration with other creator/citizen groups.

About FMC Events

Widely praised by advocates and industry alike, FMC's Policy Summits have built a reputation as "a kind of Geneva where all sides in any number of contentious music industry fights can get together and play nice for a few days." Even more importantly, the Policy Summits offer policymakers "a rare opportunity to hear musicians articulate their concerns in person instead of relying on competing lobbying groups that claim to espouse their interests" (Washington Post, May 6, 2004).

It is our continuing goal to bring the best and brightest people together to discuss the most critical issues impacting our community. FMC's events direct the agenda towards guarding the value of music for musicians, and guarding access to music for music consumers. In addition, we look to the future and discuss the various models the music industry might adopt in coming years.

It is our belief that by continuing to organize events such as this one we will help the media, citizens, creators and our elected officials and policy makers have a more sophisticated understanding of the opportunities and effects of these new technologies on guarding the value of music for musicians, and guarding access to music for citizens.

About the American Federation of Musicians

Founded in 1896, the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM), AFL-CIO is the largest organization in the world dedicated to representing the interests of professional musicians. With more than 90,000 members, the AFM represents all types of professional musicians, including those who record music for sound recordings, film scores, radio, television and commercial announcements, as well as perform music of every genre in every sort of venue from small jazz clubs to symphony orchestra halls to major stadiums. Whether negotiating fair agreements, protecting ownership of recorded music, securing benefits such as health care and pension, or lobbying legislators, the AFM is committed to raising industry standards and placing the professional musician in the foreground of the cultural landscape.

About the New York State Music Fund

These events are made possible by a grant from the New York State Music Fund, which was established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors when investigations into the practice of “payola” or “pay for play” by major recording and broadcasting companies were resolved. These settlements stipulated that funds paid by the music businesses should benefit the residents of New York State through music education and appreciation programs.

To date, the Music Fund has awarded nearly 400 grants totaling over $35 million for exemplary contemporary music of all genres being created by today’s composers and musicians including new classical music, jazz, folk music from around the world, experimental music, and noncommercial forms of popular music. In addition to the creation and performance of new music, the Music Fund supports school and community-based educational programs, and recording and media dissemination projects that expand public access to music.