EPISODE · Sep 7, 2026 · 14 MIN
The Musician’s Union and the Mafia: Labor Corruption in Entertainment
from A History of the American Mafia Podcast: Organized Crime, Mob Families, Bosses, Gangsters, Prohibition, Criminal Trials, and the Rise of La Cosa Nostra · host Podily & Josh Linsk
This episode unpacks how organized crime infiltrated entertainment unions—starting with the American Federation of Musicians, moving through the International Brotherhood of Musicians and the shadowy hand of Willie Bioff—and the FBI investigations that exposed payroll fraud, illegal contracts, and a hidden money‑laundering network. We trace the evidence from 1950s Senate testimonies to 1987 convictions, showing how unions became both front and conduit for mob power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Musician’s Union and the Mafia: Labor Corruption in Entertainment
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