Now is the right time to become an American Federation of Musicians member. From ragtime to rap, from the early phonograph to today's digital recordings, the AFM has been there for its members. And now there are more benefits available to AFM members than ever before, including a multi-million dollar pension fund, excellent contract protection, instrument and travelers insurance, work referral programs and access to licensed booking agents to keep you working.
As an AFM member, you are part of a membership of more than 80,000 musicians. Experience has proven that collective activity on behalf of individuals with similar interests is the most effective way to achieve a goal. The AFM can negotiate agreements and administer contracts, procure valuable benefits and achieve legislative goals. A single musician has no such power.
The AFM has a proud history of managing change rather than being victimized by it. We find strength in adversity, and when the going gets tough, we get creative - all on your behalf.
Like the industry, the AFM is also changing and evolving, and its policies and programs will move in new directions dictated by its members. As a member, you will determine these directions through your interest and involvement. Your membership card will be your key to participation in governing your union, keeping it responsive to your needs and enabling it to serve you better. To become a member now, visit www.afm.org/join.
November 1, 2026
Music Director Patrick Tice-Carroll on Building the Show’s Tour-to-Broadway Sound with Local Musicians National tours of musicals typically start out as Broadway shows. Patrick Tice-Carroll, music director for Dirty Dancing: The Musical, says the exact opposite is true with this show. It was conceived and launched as a tour. It will be opening in a […]
Read MoreNovember 1, 2026
On October 29, the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) held a hybrid Town Hall meeting at the Nashville Musicians Association (Local 257) to update members on Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA) negotiations ahead of talks resuming November 3–5. AFM International President Tino Gagliardi opened the meeting and outlined the […]
Read MoreNovember 1, 2026
On October 13, Local 10-208 (Chicago, IL) held a special informational session for the recording artists of Soulistic360—the most recent independent record label in Chicago to become a signatory to the AFM’s Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA). Soulistic360 artists had the opportunity to hear from SRLA Bargaining Committee Member Will Wells, a member of Locals […]
Read MoreNovember 1, 2026
However joyous the music is this time of year—trumpets, drums, and bells ushering in the holidays—if you’re a musician performing in proximity to cymbals or in front of the timpani you are susceptible to a range of sound, not all of it music to your ears. Orchestras are traditionally unamplified, but as louder acts from […]
Read MoreNovember 1, 2026
In-House Counsel Micky Devitt The AFM is pleased to welcome In-House Counsel Michelle “Micky” Devitt, who brings years of labor law experience and a lifelong passion for music to the role. Devitt will oversee negotiations, administration, and enforcement of the AFM’s electronic media and theater agreements, while advising on union governance and supporting Federation staff […]
Read MoreOctober 1, 2026
From last-minute transpositions to complex union contracts, major orchestra librarians explain why their work is fundamentally musical—and why at-will employment puts entire organizations at risk. With a number of AFM orchestras in recent contract negotiations, a spotlight has been turned on orchestra librarians, a segment of an orchestra’s personnel that too often falls under the […]
Read MoreOctober 1, 2026
by Jennifer Rhyne, DMA, and flutist of Local 76-493 (Seattle, WA) and Charlie Katica, Ph.D., CSCS For musicians and conductors, the pursuit of artistic excellence may come at a physical cost. Long hours of practice and performance with the upper body in asymmetrical or forward-leaning postures can cause nerve and muscular issues over time. The […]
Read MoreSeptember 30, 2026
Leading by Example and Elevating Women in Brass With a dad like Martin Hackleman—known to brass players around the world as a former horn player with the legendary Canadian Brass, and subsequently the Empire Brass Quintet—one might think that the horn was inevitable for daughter Allene. Not so. “I actually started on the clarinet,” says […]
Read MoreSeptember 1, 2026
by Allen Fogle, International President, Recording Musicians Association and member of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) This coming spring we return to the bargaining table with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) for the film and television contract, and I want you to hear directly from me about where things stand. Reflecting […]
Read MoreSeptember 1, 2026
by Jamie Vespa, Electronic Media Services Division Contracts Compliance Manager Although it can seem daunting at first, recording your own album is an extremely rewarding experience. The AFM is here to help by offering protective sound recording agreements for you and the musicians you hire. (Please note, the agreements described here are intended for musicians […]
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