MWA supports the We Need a Union petition
The AFM (American Federation of Musicians) claims to represent all musicians. In practice, it doesn’t. AFM contracts with the major film companies and labels (UMG, WMG, Sony) provide excellent benefits. But the AFM has never challenged those corporations to extend benefits to those who create the indie sound recordings or film scores they distribute; and have failed to organize indie labels distributed by indie distributors (DistroKid, TuneCore, etc).
As a result, we have been powerless to fight back as musicians’ rights and livelihoods have been decimated. Spotify’s .0038 cent starvation wage has become the industry standard, and a generation of musicians have lived and died without basic Union protection.
And unless we UNITE NOW to demand that the AFM fight for indie musician issues in the upcoming 2026 negotiations — we'll be betrayed again.
For further information, please see Frequently Asked Questions
WHO ARE WE?
MWA is an organization of, by, and for independent music workers. MWA seeks to initiate, organize, and support collective action that empowers independent music workers.
Find out more about the people involved in MWA: Who We Are
WHAT ARE MWA’S PRIORITIES?
Fighting for music workers at the federal, state and city level for access to benefits and fair protections
Economic justice and fair working conditions for music workers in live venues and recorded music settings (e.g. fair contracts, contracts for all, minimum pay rates, fair pay for venues that stream gigs, protections against discrimination and harassment)
Economic justice in the digital domain (e.g. fair copyright protections, stopping copyright infringement, fair pay and rules for streaming, expansion of fair opportunities for DJs to monetize sets)
Social Justice/Culture shift (equal access for people of color and other underrepresented groups in the industry, e.g. fighting against discrimination in hiring and pay, fair royalties, and fighting to get past work recognized and paid)
MWA works with other organizations where and when our principles, perspectives and goals are in harmony with theirs. Our "Points Of Unity" document lists many of MWA's core beliefs:
