The Bigger Picture

One of the most important things for any trade union in Ireland today is to forge international links. As members of the FIM (International Federation of Musicians) we are able to develop connections on a greater level with musicians in Europe and worldwide. http://old.fim-musicians.org/eng/index.html

FIM was founded in 1948 and is the international organisation for musicians with 72 member unions throughout the world.

Recently, FIM created two regional groups – one for African the other for Latin America countries.

The Federation’s main objective is to protect and further the economic, social and artistic interests of musicians organised in member unions. This leads to such activities as:

Furtherance of the organisation of musicians in all countries

Federation of unions of musicians throughout the world

Furtherance and strengthening of international collaboration

Promoting national and international protective legislation in the interests of musicians

Making agreements with other international organisations in the interests of member unions and of the profession

Obtaining and compiling statistical and other information relating to the music profession and provision of such information to member unions

Moral and material support of member unions in the interests of the profession and in accordance with the objects of FIM

Furtherance of all appropriate efforts to make good music a common property of all people

Holding international congresses and conferences

Close collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the International Labour Office (ILO) and UNESCO, and the maintenance of continuous relations with all international organisations which could be of service to FIM.

As a non-governmental organisation, FIM has a permanent relationship with major inter-governmental organisations such as UNESCO, the ILO and WIPO.

It is recognised and consulted by the Council of Europe, the European Commission and the European Parliament which enables FIM to participate in crucial negotiations on the protection of performers and to make the voice of musicians heard.

The Federation is also member of The International Music Council (IMC). It collaborates with all national and international organisations representing workers in the media field. It has close working relations in the framework of the International Arts Entertainment Alliance (IAEA) with the International Federation of Actors (FIA) and UNI-Media and Entertainment International (UNI-MEI).

FIM works closely with collecting societies which administer performers’ rights.