Unions and trade bodies work politically and legally to promote their members' interests and support sustainability and growth within the music industry. Those members can include , , and
What is a music union?
Music Unions protect the interests of the they represent, offering advice, support, and legal assistance, protecting, and improving working conditions and mental health, and boosting employment and overall income for their members. Unions are typically able to on behalf of their members with other entities in the industry, for example, musicians' unions bargain with record label trade bodies for rules or standards regarding recording session fees. This is different from the collective management of copyright and related rights.
Most Music Unions are members of FIM or can be found through the local .
What is a trade body?
Music trade bodies are typically non-profit organizations that protect the interests of the businesses they represent. They actively educate their members on issues affecting the wider music industry, lobby governments, and publicize the industry to the media and the wider public. Some trade bodies can collectively bargain on behalf of their members with other entities in the industry, for example, record label trade bodies with music unions for rules or standards regarding recording session fees. This is different from the collective management of copyright and related rights.
See our page on Collective Management Organizations to learn more.
Most national music trade bodies are members of ICMP or IFPI or can be found through the local copyright office. In addition to ICMP and IFPI, there are other global trade bodies, including CISAC, IMPF, and DiMA as well as regional ones such as FILAE.
Some international trade bodies are international federations. They build and control IT systems and business rules that keep track of and the required for crediting and compensating creators. Discover more information on this in our Getting Credited and Paid topic.
Image credit: Ann Kilpatrick