The goal of The Fair Trade Music Campaign is to establish a fair compensation for musicians in Portland, Oregon.

Joshua Bell in the Washington Subway

Since this Washington Post story came up again recently at a FTM core group meeting, I decided to look it up to post here. I'd read this article, but hadn't seen the video.

I'm ashamed to say I hadn't seen or heard him play before this. Damn, it's enough to make me forget the years I was force-fed music of this vintage and start liking erudite music again. In fact, i'm almost inspired enough to take the tuba out to the corner of 82nd and powell and see how I do.

The upshot: One of the world's greatest violinists, playing some of the greatest (erudite, Western European) music ever written on an instrument valued at about $3 million, went largely unnoticed. He made $59.

It's not [just] about the money! (Part One)

Part I: building a better music scene.

I've been talking to a lot of people about the Fair Trade Music campaign. There seems to be a widespread misconception that it's exclusively about money.

It's not hard to see why - most of my friends know that most Portland musicians are literally just scraping by: According to a poll we conducted last year, the average Portland musician makes under $9k a year (the federal poverty level is $12k.)

However, among most of the people I talk to, very few people seem to be aware of why. Part of it, unfortunately, is that our culture doesn't really seem to value live music or musicians as much as it used to, or as much as other cultures do (see the article on Joshua Bell in the NYC subway)

The other is that following a federal labor law ruling in the late 70's, an arbitrary, invisible line was drawn between musicians and all other service workers in a club. This line magically absolved club owners of any legal obligation of paying the musicians. So, venues pay the musicians last, if at all.

Fair Trade Music Happy Hour

Location: 
Zaytoons
2236 NE Alberta
Portland, OR
See map: Google Maps

Joining us this week will be Attorney Peter Vaughan Shaver. He will be doing a casual overview of his 10 commandments of the Music Biz, as well as answering random questions. We will also have time to talk about Fair Trade Music, answer questions, and update you on new developments.

Hope to see you there.

Fair Trade Music

Location

Zaytoons
2236 NE Alberta
Portland, OR
United States
See map: Google Maps

Fair Play

Billboard Magazine printed an article on the Fair Trade Music campaign in the Jan. 30 edition of the magazine.

It can be viewed online at
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id...

Unfortunately, there is an error in the article we would like to correct. In the article, AFM Local 99 President Bruce Fife is incorrectly quoted as saying.

"Some clubs can take out fees of up to $100 before the band even sees a nickel."

The reality is, that number is actually an order of magnitude higher at $1,000. This money is deducted from ticket sales or cover charges to ensure the wages of employees hired by these venues, advertising costs, hospitality (more on that later) and the ever mysterious "house fee".

McMenamin's booker Jimi Biron is also interviewed in the article and his comment on the benefits he sees from Fair Trade Music hit the nail on the head.

"I like it from a competitive stance," he says. "It will help us be able to recruit and book top local talent, because they'll know we pay fairly."

Fair Trade Music Update October 11th, 2009

Extra, Extra, Fair Trade Music in the News!!

This past week a number of articles were written around the country about the Fair Trade Music campaign.

First was an article in the Willamette Week

Check it out on our site

Next was a write up of that same Willamette Week article in Nashville Cream which generated some lively discussion between venue staff and musicians on their blog.
Check it out on our site

Billboard magazine has also picked up our story and weighed in with a supportive analysis on their business blog, Billboard.biz

Check it out on our site

Analysis: Weighing Fair Trade As It Hits Portland Music Scene

Billboard.biz
by Glenn Peoples
October 7th
Direct Link

A few interesting topics from the article.

Fair trade music could have two results. On one hand, . . . attendance would shift - maybe a bit, maybe a lot - to fair trade venues from non-fair trade venues. In effect, being a fair trade venue would be a bit of a competitive advantage. If popular artists pledged not to perform at non-fair trade venues, the impact of that advantage would be amplified.
On the other hand, a fair trade pay scale could give club owners less incentive to book unpopular acts. It can be explained in terms local bands can understand: If you asked a record store owner to buy your CD and refused to allow the store to sell on consignment (thus shifting the entire risk to the store), you will hurt your chance of getting that store to stock your CD.

Fair Trade Music makes it's way to Nashville.

Nashville Scene
Bands, Where Oh Where Does Your Door Money Go?
by Tracy Moore
Thursday October 1, 2009

http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/nashvillecream/2009/10/cover_me_bands_where_oh_where.php

Fair Trade Music

Willamette Week
by Amanda Ingram
Wednesday September 30, 2009

http://wweek.com/editorial/3547/13118/

Portland Musicians Launch "Fair Trade Music" Campaign

The Deli
Portland Scene Blog
by Ryan J. Prado
Tuesday September, 8 2009

http://www.thedelimagazine.com/portland/index.php?name=delirious-audio&itemId=222263&mode=comments

Fair Trade Music Update

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Fair Trade Music table at Last Thursday on Alberta. Support is growing for our cause and you folks are the ones making it happen.

Be sure to tune in to KBOO 90.7 FM on Monday 9/28 at 10pm to listen to an interview with Fair Trade Music on UN-HERD.

www.fairtrademusicpdx.org/

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