Johnny “High Hat” Miller, local union-rep for the Drummers International Local #231, announce today that recent negotiations have been successful in securing all drummers with the right to be paid based solely on the number of drums in their kit. 

Miller also reported that the union was not successful in some of the other Drummer’s union contract demands like talent evaluations being mostly based on how hard drummers hit their drums or that stage space for other band members can not infringe on the number of symbols a drummer chooses to use..

Today’s announcements are seen as a big step forward in the move away from the traditional outdated talent-based models of compensation that have dominated the music industry and have often disadvantaged many talent-adverse union members.

Miller concluded by saying that employers and other band members need to understand that there is a lot more to drumming than strict adherence to old tired notions of meter, rhythm and beat.

“Asking a drummer to play with one less cymbal is like asking him to not drink before a gig: it’s just offensive.”

In a related story, negotiations are beginning next week with the Guitarist Union that will see negotiations supporting their members getting paid by the note. The Bass Players Union will also be looking to put forward amendments during their negotiations that would end the practice of someone always feeling the need to talk over every bass solo.