Los Angeles is home to the best professional musicians in the world. It’s the heart of the entertainment industry – the place where film, TV, streaming, video games, and theme park music should be made.

But it’s not happening here anymore.

Studios and production companies are taking their work overseas or out of state – not because they want to, but because they have to. The current union recording contracts are outdated, restrictive, and simply too expensive. It’s become impossible for productions to justify recording union scores in L.A.

That’s where the Musician Syndicate comes in. Let’s fix this together – let’s bring the work back!

What We Believe

• We believe in union work and fair pay for musicians.
• We believe the AFM should be making it easier – not harder – for studios to record in Los Angeles.
• We believe in a Buyout Contract Option that allows for up-front, fair compensation without the costly back-end burden that drives work away.

This is a movement. Not a company, not a club – a movement of professional musicians demanding that the AFM finally listen to the very people they are supposed to represent.

Many cities and countries already use buyout agreements. Just simple, clean terms, & that’s why they’re winning the work.

AFM musicians should be protected & fairly compensated, but we are being priced out of the industry, and if the union won’t evolve, it won’t survive. Neither will we.

What We’re Asking For

We propose a Buyout Contract for union scoring sessions for:

• Television
• Streaming
• (And ideally, theatrical films in the future, but with different terms)

Our suggested starting point:
A fair but competitive hourly rate + pension + health & welfare = Buyout.

This is not a complete solution, but it’s a step forward. It’s a lifeline. It’s what the AFM should be fighting for.

All we want to hear from you is if you support a Buyout Option or not. You can remain completely anonymous – we just want to hear your voice!