Musicians voice displeasure with state’s new gig worker law

Musicians and other music industry professionals make up the latest group seeking exemptions from Assembly Bill 5, which presumes workers are employees by default unless they pass a three-part "ABC" test.

A bill introduced Friday by State Senator Brian Jones, R-East San Diego County, adds the group to a list of others AB 5 should not apply to. These workers include physicians, some securities broker-dealers and investment advisors, commercial fishermen, some travel agents and artists.

SB 881 would not apply to musicians bound by a collective bargaining agreement.

A press release from Jones' office Friday said the senator authored the bill "at the request of local San Diego musicians."

Referencing AB 5, the release further stated, "The gig law is causing a lot of backlash from ride-hailing drivers, computer coders, freelance writers, musicians, translators and other gig workers. In fact, thousands have said they are losing jobs, clients and money because of AB 5."

In January, multiple bills were introduced to provide exemptions to the law for alarm service workers, freelance journalists, small business owners, newspaper distributors, and court interpreters and translators. These include SB 868, 867, 875, and AB 1925.

AB 5 took effect Jan. 1.

-- Jessica Mach