The bipartisan Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA) would be a game-changer for arts workers. This bill seeks to restore tax fairness for entertainment professionals by allowing the deduction of work expenses through updating the Qualified Performing Artist (QPA) deduction - a deduction arts workers lost when tax reform passed in 2017. The last thing entertainment professionals need right now is a tax code that penalizes them for seeking work. The PATPA fixes this problem and would renew the ability to deduct business expenses like agents and managers fees, equipment, website hosting, and audio/video reels, to name just a few. Entertainment professionals are still recovering from lost work due to the pandemic. Passing the Per... Read More -->

REMINDER! The TAX DAY PRESENTATION hosted by the AGMA Staging Staff Caucus is NEXT WEEK, on April 18, at 9:00 p.m. ET./6:00 p.m. PT. Joining the Caucus will be Mark Zinman, CPA, and Managing Partner of Zinman & Company. All AGMA Staging Staff members in good standing are encouraged to participate. Please register here. Anyone who has already registered does not need to do so again. The Zoom details will be sent in the days leading up to the presentation! Zinman comes highly recommended by The Actors Fund. He presented a webinar called “Tax Matters: COVID-19 Stimulus and the Entertainment Community” for The Actors Fund last year. There will be time for a Q&A following his presentation. He will no doubt cover many cru... Read More -->

New webinar alert! The two-part Financial Planning Seminar hosted by the Opera & Concert Choristers Caucus is available for viewing. MyAGMA login required. On March 21 and March 28, the OCCC was joined by Cameron Rahmani, Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual, and Tyrone Dinneen, Financial Advisor. They discussed different key subjects, such as the importance of planning for the future, how to protect assets, and retirement options. To access the recording, members must log in to MyAGMA and visit the “AGMA Webinars” main page, accessed from the MyAGMA dropdown menu -or- the Document Library. From there, members can select “AGMA Caucus Webinars.” Happy viewing! ... Read More -->

ACTION ALERT. The Pandemic is not over for the Arts. Right now, Congress is making decisions that will affect next year’s funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and it needs to hear from you! Send a letter through Action Network. We’ve drafted one that you can customize or send as-is! It only takes a minute. The NEA and NEH support job opportunities for union creative professionals in every state while providing all Americans with access to enriching programs that lift up local economies. Additionally, the NEA and NEH are critical to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts, entertainment, and media industries. ... Read More -->

The AGMA Staging Staff Caucus is excited to announce a special TAX DAY PRESENTATION on April 18 at 9:00 p.m. ET./6:00 p.m. PT. Joining the Caucus will be Mark Zinman, CPA, and Managing Partner of Zinman & Company. Zinman comes highly recommended by The Actors Fund. He presented a webinar called “Tax Matters: COVID-19 Stimulus and the Entertainment Community” for The Actors Fund last year. There will be time for a Q&A following his presentation. He will no doubt cover many crucial topics for staging staff, including W2 and 1099 employees, LLCs, unemployment, deductions, and more. All AGMA Staging Staff members in good standing are encouraged to participate. Please register here. The Zoom details will be sent in the da... Read More -->

The American Guild of Musical Artists congratulates all members of AGMA who were a part of this year's GRAMMY Awards! For a full listing of nominees/winners of the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards, please visit here. ... Read More -->

March 31 is Transgender Day of Visibility — a day dedicated to celebrating and recognizing the resilience and accomplishments of the transgender and non-binary community. In particular, AGMA celebrates and honors the transgender and non-binary artists who have given so much of their gifts and talents to make the arts better, more inclusive, and more vibrant. AGMA is stronger as a union because of its transgender and non-binary members. Unfortunately, today is also a day to raise awareness about the violence and inequality transgender and non-binary individuals face on a daily basis. Every person deserves a just and equal life and workplace, free of harassment, violence, and discrimination. Today we stand in solidarity with... Read More -->

AGMA is happy to re-introduce the AGMA DELEGATE PORTAL. This portal requires MyAGMA access. AGMA Delegates are a vital part of the Union’s presence in the workplace - acting as leaders, organizers, communicators, and resources for all AGMA Artists. AGMA Delegates help make sure our signatory employers are providing a safe and mutually respectful environment and that the hard-won protections of the collective bargaining agreement are followed. AGMA Delegates act as a liaison between the Artists and the management of the company, ensuring productive and respectful working relationships. AGMA Delegates work to bring all shop members together and help create a shared sense of identity as union members. This new resource hub for AGMA De... Read More -->

Annie Hollister (she/her) joined the American Guild of Musical Artists as Eastern Counsel in March 2022. The proud daughter of an IATSE member, Hollister was born and raised in New York City and, in a previous life, trained as a classical singer. She comes to AGMA from the Honors Program at the United States Department of Labor (DOL), where she was involved in drafting and litigating regulations for the protection and empowerment of American workers.  Prior to joining DOL, she clerked for the Hon. Marsha S. Berzon on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  “I am thrilled that Annie has joined our team of negotiators at AGMA," said National Executive Director Sam Wheeler. "Annie is an exceptiona... Read More -->

Kristine Covillo Lynch published a personal essay on identity in the fall 2021 issue of AGMAzine. In the essay, she dives into how she “constantly questions” her identity. “Am I still a ‘dancer’ if I’m not performing professionally?” she writes. “Am I okay with going by other monikers now? Could ‘mother,’ ‘teacher,’ ‘choreographer,’ or ‘administrator/director’ be my new appellative? I love all these things, but could these new titles replace my old identity of ‘dancer?’” Also in the essay, she shares information about the company she founded with her husband. We are so happy to share her poignant thoughts once more as part of our AGMAzine Spotlight Series. I was, and perhaps I still am, a profes... Read More -->