New York, NY — September 5, 2025 — Musicians For Musicians (MFM), a nonprofit association advocating for the rights, recognition, and fair pay of freelance and independent musicians, proudly announces its 10-Year Anniversary Celebration on Friday, September 5, at The Cutting Room in New York City. This special event kicks off at 9:00 p.m., with musical performances starting at 9:30 p.m.; tickets are free for MFM members, and $20 for non-members.
Over the past decade, MFM has united musicians across genres and geographies under a single mission: to raise music from a passion to a profession through advocacy, education, and solidarity. From educational webinars and podcasts to championing the Freelance Isn’t Free Act and amplifying national campaigns for fair streaming royalties and AI protections, MFM has been a driving force in elevating music as a profession....
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New York, NY — September 5, 2025 — Musicians For Musicians (MFM), a nonprofit association advocating for the rights, recognition, and fair pay of freelance and independent musicians, proudly announces its 10-Year Anniversary Celebration on Friday, September 5, at The Cutting Room in New York City. This special event kicks off at 9:00 p.m., with musical performances starting at 9:30 p.m.; tickets are free for MFM members, and $20 for non-members.
Over the past decade, MFM has united musicians across genres and geographies under a single mission: to raise music from a passion to a profession through advocacy, education, and solidarity. From educational webinars and podcasts to championing the Freelance Isn’t Free Act and amplifying national campaigns for fair streaming royalties and AI protections, MFM has been a driving force in elevating music as a profession.
The highlight of the evening will be a special performance by the MFM Unity Ensemble, featuring Grammy Award-winning saxophonist/band leader and educator Joe Lovano and 8x Grammy Award-winning pianist/composer/ band leader and Afro Latin Jazz Alliance founder Arturo O’Farrill. Their collaboration will celebrate both MFM’s mission and the power of collective musical expression.
Later in the evening, there will be another special performance by New York’s Nu NO WAVE band SoSaLa—led by saxophonist/singer SoSaLa—featuring guitarist Mark C. (Live Skull) and drummer Andy Weintraub. Together, they will create music that transcends both rock and jazz.
The event will also include remarks from MFM board members, Advisory Committee representatives, and video tributes from supporters like NEA Jazz Master David Liebman, Jazz in the Neighborhood founder Mario Guarneri, and legendary bassist Steve Swallow. Guests from the Recording Academy, Independent Musicians Alliance, Music Workers Alliance, and Local 802 will also be in attendance.
Attendees can support the organization by purchasing limited-edition MFM merchandise, including event branded T-shirts. 100% of ticket and merch proceeds will go to benefit MFM’s ongoing programs and campaigns.
Event Details:
The Cutting Room, 44 East 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016
Doors Open: 9:00 p.m. | Performances Begin: 9:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20 (non-members)
Cutting Room Food & Beverage Minimum: $25
More Info: www.musiciansformusicians.org
Founded in 2015 by saxophonist and activist Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi, MFM emerged from a deep need to organize freelance musicians into a unified voice for fair compensation, labor protection, and industry recognition.
"In this crazy time with so much social-political-cultural turmoil happening here in the US and around the world,” says Ladjevardi, “I firmly believe that musicians' vital role is to speak out for their communities and come up with messages that will create solidarity among a particular group of people and unite them to fight for their cause. Musicians are the most powerful artists whose sounds can have an impact on people's conscience in a second."
Join us on September 5th as we honor a decade of progress and look ahead to the future of music advocacy. This celebration is a call to action—for every musician to join the movement and claim the respect we deserve.
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