The American Federation of Musicians will bring live music to Times Square on Wednesday, March 11, as the union stages a solidarity rally coinciding with the second round of negotiations for the Sound Recording Labor Agreement with Sony, Universal, Hollywood Records, and Warner.

At the heart of the negotiations are two central demands: fair wages and protections against the use of artificial intelligence to replicate or exploit musicians’ work. The AFM has framed the rally as a show of unified force, aimed at preventing the major labels from employing what the union describes as “divide and conquer” tactics during the bargaining process. The outcome of the negotiations is widely seen as carrying implications beyond the recording industry, potentially setting a precedent for how human performance and intellectual property are valued in an evolving digital landscape.

“Human creativity is the engine of the entertainment industry,” said AFM International President Tino Gagliardi, per an official press release. “We are fighting for a future where musicians have a decisive say in how their work is used, sampled, or imitated. Musicians demand fair wages — and consent, compensation and credit when A.I. uses our creativity.”

The demonstration is set for 10 a.m. at 1500 Broadway and is open to AFM members, entertainment union allies, and supporters of the arts.

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