It may be presumptuous to suggest that the Musicians Union is expected to serve as a vanguard of artistic excellence in our industry. There are a number of problems with such a claim. First, the whole notion of music “excellence” is a matter of perspective, with varying views even within our experienced membership. And while our board, officers, and staff are dedicated to the advancement of healthy music careers, no one appointed us to be guardians of quality. The creation of inspiring music, moving the emotions and intellect of the listener, is the role of the artist, and not typically the mission of elected representatives and administrators.
Our union positions are defined in more practical terms. The age-old Local 30-73 Constitution explains:
The object of this Union is to unite the musicians for the better protection of their interests in general and the establishment of a minimum rate of prices to be charged by members of this Union for their professional services and the enforcement of good faith and fair dealings among its members.
In other words, we are pledged to secure favorable terms and conditions of employment, and to promote music education and foster a positive political and social environment for stable music careers.
But we are now in a time when a number of influences, including economic stress, the expansion of media technology, and a constant competition for the listeners time and attention, all tear away at the goal of artistic quality. In the name of balancing its budget, a symphony management stifles touring and major artistic projects. Satisfied with a public domain or black market recording, a once reputable dance company drops the full live orchestra hired every prior year. Impressed with the faux musician skills of its actors, an internationally known theater company allows Equity members to mimic music performance with a synthesized music track. To draw a larger and more energetic crowd, a jazz club promotes regional pop artists as quasi-jazz performers with back-up bands paid less than the price of a good haircut. Aware that the average iPod listener prioritizes mobility over quality, a whole industry sells “crunched” recordings which dilute the audio depth of every song so that more tunes can fit on a memory chip.
These are frustrating examples of the disrespect for music careers and the compromise of quality music. By enforcing wage rates, negotiating fair bargaining agreements, educating the public, preserving intellectual property rights including copyright, and upholding bargained artistic standard provisions, the Union serves a protective artistic role and advances the environment for exhilarating music performances.
