PRESS RELEASE

13 June 2007

Sudbury Federation of Musicians Seeks New Beginning

An historic association has been given a new lease on life.  On May 15th the Sudbury chapter of the American Federation of Musicians held its first election in several years.   Twelve members met at the Howard Johnson in Sudbury and elected award winning singer/songwriter Kevin Closs as their president and internationally acclaimed music educator Norm McIntosh Vice-President along with three board members.

The AFM is the oldest and largest musicians' association in the world with 100,000 active members.  The Tragically Hip, Nelly Furtado, Barenaked Ladies and Diana Krall, are among the thousands of Canadian artists who make the AFM the most effective and powerful musicians' association in the world.   It has collective bargaining agreements with major record companies, symphony orchestras, and the CBC.  It also advocates for musicians' rights and collects and distributes royalties on behalf of its members.

Sudbury musicians were first granted a charter in 1968 and the Local once boasted a membership of over 500 including a young Shania Twain.   In the eighties a recession decimated live music across the region and Local 290 was merged with the Sault Ste. Marie Musicians' Association in 1992.   In 1998 a new charter was granted but the Local has been mostly inactive since then.   However increasing membership and the formation of the new Board of Directors is giving Local 290 new life.   With live music making a comeback recently, the Sudbury Federation of Musicians will have an important role to play in supporting professional musicians.