ILO | Working paper on social protection in the CCS
First published on the ILO website
This Working Paper is based on the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work, 2019, which calls on the ILO to direct its efforts to “developing and enhancing social protection systems, which are adequate, sustainable and adapted to developments in the world of work.”
In particular, the paper reviews policy and legal frameworks in selected countries that have pursued specific solutions to extend social security in the creative and culture sector, in order to identify entry points and mechanisms for expanding coverage. Policy options ensuring the adequacy and the sustainability of such systems are discussed, taking into account particular employment circumstances in the sector, such as fluctuating employment status, irregular incomes, intermittent nature of work, and geographic mobility. […]
Read full post
Covid-19 | Impact on the music sector
The consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on the music sector
(Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, the Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Zimbabwe)
1. Assessment of government restrictions imposed on the music sector
The first sector to have suffered from government restrictions, the performing arts will also be the last to resume normal activity. In most countries, all music sectors are affected (production, concerts, performances, distribution, exploitation, audiovisual, broadcasting). Only streaming can maintain a certain level of activity.
• In France, after rough handling as a result of the “yoyo” effect of the health protocol (half-capacity seating, earlier times due to the curfew), show venues finally had to close on 30 October last. […]
Read full post
FIM pays tribute to John Morton (1925−2021)
Photograph: Hardie Ratcliffe (left) and John Morton (right) at the 8th FIM Congress (1973)
John Morton was born in 1925 in Wolverhampton into a modest family. As a child, he took piano lessons before leaving school at the age of fourteen to become an apprentice printer. He then joined a group of swing musicians, a genre much in vogue during the forties. As a member of the musicians’ union from 1946, he soon became branch secretary and member of the Executive Committee. During this period, he was in particular involved in negotiations with the cinema industry and broadcasters.
Subsequently, he taught industrial relations at Solihull College before succeeding Hardie Ratcliffe as the union’s General Secretary in 1971. […]
Read full post
Music competition launched to raise awareness of child labour
The competition aims to harness the power of music to help combat child labour, which affects 152 million children worldwide
The Music Against Child Labour Initiative, which brings together musicians to raise awareness of child labour, is launching a song competition on 3 February 2021 to mark the UN International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour.
Musicians of all genres are invited to submit a song to inspire governments and stakeholders to take action to eliminate child labour, which affects nearly 1 in 10 children worldwide.
While child labour has decreased by almost 40 per cent over the last two decades, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to reverse that progress. […]
Read full post
Instruments aboard planes: Easyjet toughens up on its rules
On 10 February 2021, Easyjet is planning to implement new rules for transporting music instruments aboard its aircraft.
Currently, an Easyjet passenger can keep an instrument aboard as hand luggage, provided the dimensions do not exceed 30×120×38 cm. More favourable than on most other European airlines, these limits placed Easyjet up to now as one of the rare companies on the continent offering musicians acceptable conditions for transporting their instruments (North American-based companies have for several years applied even more favourable provisions).
The new maximum dimensions of 56×40×25 cm, applicable from 10 February next, are less than the size of a violin in its case. […]
Read full post
EU | Status and working conditions in the creative sector
The DG EAC of the European Commission is publishing a study on workers in the European creative sector
According to the Commission, this study, commissioned from the European Expert Network on Culture and Audiovisual (EENCA), comes within the scope of objectives for the New European Agenda for Culture adopted in 2018. Among the aims is helping the Member States ensure fair remuneration for workers in the creative sector through social dialogue and the implementation of an ecosystem favourable to such workers. Efforts in this direction are currently being made by certain states within the scope of the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) with regard to status and working conditions for artists and cultural and creative professionals. […]
Read full post
Belgium | ONB sentenced for breaching musicians’ neighbouring rights
In a joint press release issued on 20 October 2020, Belgian unions CGSP Culture & Media, CSC-ACV Transcom and SLFP-VSOA welcomed with satisfaction the court decision ordering the distribution by the Belgian National Orchestra (ONB) of video recordings unauthorized by musicians to be stopped.
Negotiations had taken place between the orchestra management and unions over the amount of remuneration to be paid to musicians in exchange for the transfer of their exclusive rights. After the failure to reach an agreement, the ONB decided unilaterally to make several video recordings available to the public without the prior authorisation of the musicians and their unions, for a lump-sum remuneration arbitrarily fixed at €600. […]
Read full post
Argentina | Demise of María Laura Vigliecca
The Argentinian union SADEM and the Latin American group of FIM are in mourning after the demise of María Laura Vigliecca, member of SADEM’s management and president of OSDEM (Obra social de músicos).
A long-time trade unionist and a committed feminist, María Laura participated in several FIM meetings in Latin America, bringing her energy, experience and exceptional charisma. In October 2018, her presence at the FIM regional conference dedicated to the rights of female musicians (Montevideo) significantly contributed to the success of this event.
FIM pays tribute to her memory and extends its heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and colleagues at SADEM.