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Guilde des musiciens et des musiciennes du Québec
Montréal / 514.842.2866

Provincial budget: major investments in the audiovisual sector

March 13, 2024

Press Release. In reaction to the provincial budget tabled yesterday by Finance Minister Éric Girard, the artists' unions are delighted, despite the context of budgetary restraint, with the various initiatives and investments aimed at the audiovisual sector. We applaud the government's willingness to review the industry's funding models and mechanisms, and are pleased that our demands have been heard. We would like to thank the Minister of Culture and Communications, Mathieu Lacombe, for his ongoing commitment to artists and artisans, and his genuine desire to promote local culture. We reiterate our full cooperation and will continue our representations to ensure the defense of our members' rights and interests.

Letter to Mr. Legault: We must act for the survival of our culture!

February 26, 2024

Quebec's largest cultural industry unions (UDA, AQTIS, ARRQ, DGC, GMMQ, SARTEC) have joined forces to call on the government to set up a consultation process to ensure the survival of our culture. Over the past few decades, the way we produce, broadcast and consume TV, film and music has changed radically, and our ecosystem has been turned upside down. Despite major investments in culture, artists and artisans continue to be impoverished. The public money invested does not trickle down adequately to artists, and many questions are being raised about the funding allocation mechanisms in place.

GMMQ announces new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

February 14, 2024

Montreal, February 14, 2024 - The Board of Directors of Local 406 of the American Federation of musicians (AFM), La Guilde des musiciens et musiciennes du Québec (GMMQ), is pleased to announce the appointment of Guy Bernard as CEO of the organization, effective February 27.

Notice of vacancy on the GMMQ Board of Directors

January 26, 2024

In accordance with article 69 of our by-laws, we wish to inform you that the GMMQ wishes to fill a vacancy on its Board of Directors for a Director at Large. In this regard, any member in good standing since February 29, 2023, who wishes to run for the aforementioned position may submit a letter of intent, along with a curriculum vitae, to the undersigned, whose deadline for applications is February 29, 2024.

Press release: Generative artificial intelligence and copyright

December 05, 2023

Montreal, December 5, 2023 - As part of the consultation organized by the federal government on generative artificial intelligence in the specific context of copyright, five professional associations representing nearly 20,000 Quebec artists are calling for caution, transparency and a protective legislative framework.

Exclusive registration or exclusivity contracts: What should I check before signing?

July 17, 2023

For several decades, the dominant model for album production has been the exclusive recording contract, also known as the album contract, record contract, exclusivity contract or phonogram production contract. Although this model has been considerably superseded by the self-production model, it is still very common and not a document to be signed lightly. Before you even enter the studio, it's vital to reach agreement with the production company* on the terms and conditions of your recording contract.

AFM Elects New International Leadership

June 30, 2023

The 102nd Convention of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada was held June 26 through June 29, 2023, at the Westgate Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The theme “In Unity, There Is Strength” was reflected in the various discourse among the delegates and echoed by many guest speakers.

What is a collecting society?

June 07, 2023

Often overlooked, collecting societies are important organizations that anyone involved in the music business should know about. As an artist, they can be a very important source of income.

The purpose of these societies is to manage rights that would be impossible or too complicated to manage alone. For example, it would be too difficult for a copyright-holding artist to go out and get paid by every radio station that makes a copy of his or her music to play it. Not to mention the fact that there are many songs to manage, and that rights are often shared by several people on the same work, it would be easy to get lost! It's in situations like these that collecting societies are a great help, if not a necessity, since they can do all the work for you that would often be impossible individually.

Six OSM musicians retire

June 05, 2023

We would like to pay tribute to six retiring musicians from the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. Congratulations to Chantale Boivin, Sophie Dugas, Marie Doré, David Quinn, Karen Baskin and Theodore Baskin. They have enjoyed success and passion, and we wish to celebrate their professional success!

Psychosocial Support Fund for artists and cultural workers

May 15, 2023

CALQ renews its contribution to the Psychosocial Support Fund.This assistance offers eligible artists and cultural workers the possibility of receiving consultations with recognized professional services through an FDA service partner, legal support or $850 to cover the fees of their own therapists. Applications can be submitted at any time.

Amendments to the Broadcasting Act (C-11): Professional artists' associations welcome passage

April 27, 2023

MONTREAL, April 27, 2023 /CNW/ - This long-awaited modernization was more than necessary to protect and safeguard our culture. Bill C-11 is a major effort to modernize the Broadcasting Act. The Union des artistes (UDA), the Guilde des musiciennes et musiciens du Québec (GMMQ), the Association des réalisateurs et réalisatrices du Québec (ARRQ) and the Société des auteurs de radio, télévision et cinéma (SARTEC), quickly took a stand in favour of the process and are delighted with its adoption today. Even if this bill does not impose the same obligations on foreign platforms as on Canadian broadcasters, such a reform was important and it will be up to the CRTC to ensure that it better supports Canadian artists and their talents. [PRESS RELEASE IN FRENCH]

In nine months, the Artists’ Foundation has directly helped nearly 5000 artists and cultural workers in the performing arts

April 03, 2023

Montreal, April 3, 2023 – Since June 2022, $12.7 million has been awarded to 4963 artists and cultural workers through the REINFORCEMENT program created and managed by the Artists’ Foundation (AF). The AF has fulfilled its mission to support professionals in the performing arts, one of the cultural sectors most affected by the pandemic. With REINFORCEMENT, which was launched with funding from the Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund, the AF was the only organization in Quebec and one of only four in the country authorized to distribute this direct financial support. From June to March, it received no fewer than 7230 applications for this subsidy.

SURVEY DIVERSITY

February 21, 2023

SURVEY IN PROGRESS. Click here to vote

AFM Opposes Proposed USCIS Visa Increases

March 01, 2023

We are greatly concerned with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) proposal to triple the fees for P (including P2’s) and O Visa applications. If implemented, this will have a devastating impact on the mobility of Canadian and International touring musicians to perform in the US. It will also disproportionately impact the cost for indie touring bands. We want to assure you that we are working with the CFM to develop an action plan to fight back and will have more to report in the weeks coming. Please note that any fee increases are likely not to come into effect until the fall of 2023. Meanwhile, the AFM is actively lobbying Homeland Security and US government.

The GMMQ promotes the value of music as well as the vital contribution of professional musicians to society.
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