The Noise Action Coalition is a group of musicians trying to win fair economic treatment for musicians working "downtown" NYC venues and indie labels. We've held monthly meetings, circulated questionaires, sponsored an open on-line discussion and talked to hundreds of mostly "downtown" / "indie" musicians to try to find out what the musicians themselves consider fair treatment. We've sponsored seminars on publishing for "downtown" and indie label musicians and on making the local 802 AFM Health plan user friendly to musicians on our scene.
In the process we've discovered that while musicians here have a strong impulse to protect the kind of marginal mom&pop venues and tiny money losing labels that have been the source of so much creative experimentation, there's also a general consensus that when money is being made, musicians ought to get paid.
Based on this idea, we organized a protest of musician non-payment by the CMJ MusicFest Music Marathon in September 96 with radio/press publicity and informational picketing at over 7 clubs for three nights. We are currently meeting with musicians from "no-pay" nightclubs, have gotten a letter published in the New York Times City section protesting this practice, and have sent a letter drafted by musicians working one such club, Arlene Grocery, to its owner, informing him of objections.
Most importantly, we've encouraged musicians to think critically about the industry we're part of while proving through action "we don't have to take mistreatment lying down".
The Noise Action Coalition is now holding discussions leading to action and taking action in several areas. We need feedback, support, ideas, criticism, input, and help! If you have any of these or have music work problems with which we could help or would like more information on a specific action please fill out our FEEDBACK FORM below or e-mail us @ noise@webcom.com
Please fill out the form below and click the submit button.
Back