When records were invented, thousands of musicians lost jobs, partly because jukeboxes and D.J.’s replaced live bands. This led to musicians refusing to make records: the recording strike of 1942 to 1944. As part of the strike settlement, the AFM won the Music Performance Fund.

Record companies agreed to pay a small royalty from each record sale to the MPF. The fund then co-sponsors live music, which creates work for musicians. That’s still how it works today.

Each month in Allegro, we print a complete list of gigs that the MPF funds for Local 802 musicians.

Any Local 802 musician can apply for MPF funding. There are guidelines that must be followed. For more information, call Olga James at (212) 245-4802, ext. 152.

For more information on the fund, see www.MusicPF.org.