Broadway Musicians Win New Contract, Largest Pay Raise In Decades

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Musicians playing Broadway shows are due for a major pay raise after voting to approve a new contract, union representatives announced.

Members of the Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 AFM, voted to approve a new three-year contract with the Broadway League by an overwhelming 93%, union representatives said. The contract is a "major turnaround from previous agreements," that provides the largest pay raises in two decades, a new 401k plan and a 23% increase in healthcare contributions.

"The Broadway League knows that a big part of their success is the ability to attract and retain the best musicians in the world," Adam Krauthamer, President of Local 802, said in a statement. "With this contract, they have solidified that bond."

Jan Mullen, chair of the union's negotiating committee, added that the union was able to find "creative solutions to many of the League’s issues which will enable us to move forward as Broadway evolves."

Broadway musicians will now be entitled to a yearly 3.5% pay raise for the duration of the contract's three-year term, union reps said. The 23% increase in healthcare contributions will be phased in throughout the three-year deal, starting with 15% in year one and dropping by 3.5% in the subsequent years. Union reps said negotiating the increase in contributions will prevent cuts from musician's health care plans.

Local 802 AFM represents more than 7,500 musicians that play venues such as Broadway, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and the city's many hotels, clubs and music festivals. The union says its members contribute to the massive popularity of Broadway productions, which brought in $1.83 billion in ticket sales during the 2018-2019 season.