Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries (AEMI) Coalition

The Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries (AEMI) coalition is the labor movement's leading public policy voice for the arts, entertainment, and media sectors. Comprised of 12 national unions, the AEMI represents a wide array of professionals, including actors, broadcast technicians, craftspeople, creators, choreographers, directors, journalists, musicians, performers, writers, singers, stage managers, and stagehands, working across both the nonprofit and commercial sectors.

Led by DPE, the AEMI focuses its public policy efforts on:

  • Championing human-centric policies that support sustainable careers for its union members in today's AI era.

  • Advancing increased, sustainable federal support for nonprofit arts and public media.

  • Ensuring robust copyright and intellectual property protections.

  • Improving diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) within its industries.

Beyond public policy, the AEMI also coordinates regularly on critical subjects affecting its industries and shared workplaces, such as organizing, bargaining, member engagement, DEIA initiatives, and the impact of artificial intelligence.

AEMI Unions

Policy Agendas

Policy Letters

Featured
Digital Creators Coalition Comments in Response to USTR's 2026 Special 301 Review RFC
AEMI Statement for the Record of January 13th Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Hearing on Digital Trade
AEMI Sign-on Statement for Record of Senate HELP Committee Hearing on Portable Benefits
AEMI Statement to Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee regarding FY 26 NEA and NEH Funding
Digital Creators Coalition Letter in Support of the Department of State's Office of Intellectual Property Enforcement
AEMI Statement to House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee regarding FY 26 NEA and NEH Funding
Joint Union-Industry Comments in Response to NSF-OSTP AI Action Plan RFI
Digital Creators Coalition Comments to USTR’s Regarding Unfair Trade Practices by Other Countries
Joint Union and Employer Letter to the House Ways and Means Committee in Support of the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA)
Digital Creators Coalition Letter Applauding G7 Coalition on Culture, Copyright, and AI
Digital Creators Coalition Letter on International Copyright and AI
Letter to House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Leadership in Support of Increased Federal Arts Funding in FY25
DPE's Response to the U.S. Copyright Office AI Study's Request for Information
DPE's Response to Department of Commerce and Department of State's Request for Stakeholder Input on Draft G7 AI Principles
DPE Letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee in Support of Deborah Robinson's Confirmation as IPEC
DPE Urges House Members to Support H.R. 2871, the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA)
Digital Creators Coalition Letter to PTO Director Vidal Commending the US IP Attaché Program

Research and Advocacy Materials

Press Releases

Featured
DPE Commends the Release of USTR’s 2025 Notorious Markets List
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Applaud Exclusion of AI Moratorium from FY 2026 NDAA
AEMI Public Media Unions Denounce Passage of Rescissions Act
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Push Back Against Proposed Elimination of the NEA, NEH, and CPB
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Decry the Dismantling of the NEH
DPE Applauds Senate Reintroduction of PATPA
DPE Commends House Reintroduction of PATPA, Legislation Aiming to Restore Tax Fairness for Entertainment Professionals
DPE Commends the Release of USTR’s 2024 Notorious Markets List
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Launch Policy Agenda That Reimagines Federal Support for the Nonprofit Arts and Public Media
DPE Stands in Solidarity with SAG-AFTRA Video Game Performers on Strike
DPE Applauds USTR’s 2024 Special 301 Report for Monitoring IP Protection Around the World
DPE Applauds USTR’s Annual Report on Markets with Substantial Content Theft
Coalition of Entertainment Workers, Unions, and Employers Urges Congress to Restore Tax Fairness by Passing PATPA as Tax Season Begins
DPE Commends the Nomination of Deborah Robinson for Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator
DPE Applauds the House Reintroduction of PATPA, Legislation Focused on Restoring Tax Fairness for Entertainment Professionals
Union Professionals, Including SDC’s Laura Penn, Appointed to the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Launch Updated DEI Policy Priorities for the 118th Congress
DPE Commends USTR’s Report on Notorious Markets for Highlighting the Impact Content Theft has on Creative Professionals

Op-eds

Featured
American Theatre: Federal Funding for Nonprofit Arts Is Going to Be a Team Effort

By DPE President Jennifer Dorning

Collective Bargaining Achievements

The union difference for professionals in the arts, entertainment, and media industries.