

In a recent public letter from Hollywood music and orchestra producer Peter Rotter, he expresses his worry that the music community for film is leaving Los Angeles, and it may never recover. The city and the industry inside it never fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and the strikes in 2023, and the recent California wildfires only worsened the problem. In the letter, he states that, “I see the infrastructure of the L.A. recording industry about to fail. It’s only a matter of time until this happens, unless we as a community stand together and support the livelihoods of the people of this city.”
Rotter, who has worked on countless projects from the widely popular Avatar and Frozen to more recent films such as Moana 2, Juror #2 and Twisters, expands saying that there are other reasons industry titans are leaving California besides the ones previously mentioned. A significant reason for this is the alluring tax incentives present for executives and artists outside of California. Rotter’s job as an orchestra contractor involves bringing together large groups of musicians and artists to score epic sequences. With many people leaving the area, it has become increasingly difficult to do that.
Later in his letter he said, “Our stages are and have been sitting empty most of the time, with their stage crews having to get part time jobs to supplement their incomes as many of the stages are only working 3-7 days a month.” With many companies moving post-production away from Hollywood and looking in other parts of the nation and overseas, the people in L.A. are hurting. “Our town has become silent, still and devoid of music making. Let us collectively revive the art form that was once heard so loudly before from our historic stages.” Read his full letter below.
Dear friends, colleagues and music industry leaders and professionals,
As a native Angeleno who grew up and resided in L.A. my entire life, my heart is devastated by the recent wildfires that have impacted so many within our community.
When one hurts, we all hurt … and we are all hurting deeply for our collective family. We are a small intertwined family of professionals (composers, instrumentalists, singers, engineers, music editors, stage crew, copyists, orchestrators, conductors, arrangers, music directors, music producers, music supervisors, music executives, etc.) and with that in mind, I needed to reach out and share my heart with you all.
Before the fires, our music community had been hit hard by COVID, then several back to back strikes as well as the dramatic shift in the level of films and TV shows being made. We have seen work move out of L.A. due to many reasons. I understand that these reasons and decisions are made months in advance and are based on film locations, tax credits/incentives as well as other factors outside of our knowledge that affect these decisions.
As a leader and someone who cares so much about this industry and its people, I needed to reach out personally to see what might be done to keep, bring back or use in part the community that needs you and your workflow now more than ever. Our stages are and have been sitting empty most of the time, with their stage crews having to get part time jobs to supplement their incomes as many of the stages are only working 3-7 days a month. The musicians are not able to make ends meet as the amount of scoring here in L.A. has fallen off the cliff and now on top of that, the fires have caused greater loss.
I need to wave the flag of deep concern as I see the infrastructure of the L.A. recording industry about to fail. It’s only a matter of time until this happens, unless we as a community stand together and support the livelihoods of the people of this city, regardless of union animosity, regardless of your company not being a signatory to the AFM, regardless of lack of tax credits or incentives, regardless of productions being shot out of the jurisdiction of the U.S. or Canada, regardless of whatever might cause you to pause and not consider working here.
As Lincoln once said, “I plead to the better angels of our nature” to help turn this horrible situation around so that we can sustain our industry before it completely collapses here. We are all aware that we need to work together to make this a better workplace for everyone, to discuss work and current business models, to gain tax credits here in L.A. and to make the union restrictions less restrictive so that you WANT to work here. These things MUST take place, and they will, that’s what negotiations and open dialogue is for. We are, however, in the midst of an agreement for both AFM and SAG that will last another two plus years.
I have worked my entire career to build strong relationships built on trust, care and integrity. I ask you as my friends and colleagues to consider what CAN be done now to infuse the blood of our music industry with life.
Our town has become silent, still and devoid of music making. Let us collectively revive the art form that was once heard so loudly before from our historic stages.
I’m always available should anyone want to discuss what might be possible and any steps forward to help make this a reality. Jasper and/or I are happy to act as a conduit with the unions or the musicians.
Thank you for reading, and thank you for your consideration.
With much respect and hope,
Peter