Hello! In order to identify the issues most important to you, as well assemble our initial committees and working groups, please fill out the brief survey below! (Explanations for some choices can be found below the survey)
*A payroll service can act as the employer of record for musicians’ engagements, ensuring they are paid correctly as employees rather than as independent contractors.
Musicians can be paid properly as W2 employees, with the appropriate employer and employee taxes paid and withheld. This prevents the 25% surcharge that is added when a producer pays musicians as independent contractors.
A payroll service can also act as the official employer for engagements, which is necessary for remitting pension contributions to the multi-employer AFM-EPF pension fund.
**Canadian musicians who want to perform in the U.S. must apply for a performing visa. The current cost for one musician to apply for a P2 Visa is US $510 plus CDN $125 for processing. If faster processing is required, there is an additional premium processing fee of US $2,805. This is a stressful and time-consuming process facilitated by the Canadian office of the AFM for its members.
Unfortunately, processing time, which currently runs from 3 to 10 months, can change at any time without notice. Delays in visa processing can lead to cancelled gigs and tours, which is bad for musicians, presenters, agents, and audiences.
By contrast, in most situations a US musician who is performing in Canada can simply bring a contract or letter of agreement with them to the border, and cross into Canada for up to two weeks, without paying any fees or having to apply in advance at all.
*** Read more about Fair Trade Music, the AFM-backed program to raise standards at local venues, by identifying and certifying venues when they pay wages and benefits that are fair to both the musicians and the venue. These agreed-upon scales respect the livelihood of the performers, yet don’t put the venue out of business.