President’s Message

From the concert hall to the orchestra pit, our symphonic communities are proving this fall that better working conditions are won only through unyielding courage, solidarity, and resilience. This resolve reminds us that whether we push back against cuts, hold the line during negotiations, or face strike authorization votes, our greatest power is our unity. Throughout these efforts, our members are backed by resources at both the local and Federation levels, including the AFM’s Symphonic Services Division and Organizing Services Department.

When we look back at the milestones of our union, we see that every advancement—from fair healthcare protections and secure pensions to reasonable scheduling and guaranteed minimum complements—was won because musicians refused to accept less. The corporate impulse to trim budgets at musicians’ expense remains a constant threat. That is why our presence in the concert hall, on sidewalks and plazas, and at the ballot box matters now more than ever. Every time a musician speaks up against overreach, they protect not just their own livelihood, but the entire cultural ecosystem that our communities depend on.

Front-Line Battles

The challenges our musicians faced on the front lines offer lessons about what it takes to win.

• Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), Local 9-535 (Boston, MA): Facing stalled talks and a deadline, BSO musicians voted to authorize a strike to secure wage increases that outpace inflation, protect orchestra size, and ensure freelance musicians were not left behind during cost-cutting pushes. An agreement was ultimately reached, securing a fair path forward after standing firm.
• San Francisco Opera Orchestra, Local 6 (San Francisco, CA): San Francisco Opera musicians stood firm during a nearly weeklong strike (spanning September 12-17) against pressures to compromise on compensation and work rules. By holding firm, their grit led to an agreement that protects professional standards, ensures fair wage progression, and preserves the artistic excellence of the company.
• Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Local 101-473 (Dayton, OH): Musicians confronted proposals from management to eliminate programming series—like rock and pop—and slash masterworks and ballet performances. This meant wage cuts of more than 40% for many members. Their ongoing struggle to defend artistic viability, reverse schedule cuts, and demand administrative accountability has resulted in a unanimous vote of no confidence in leadership. Further ratcheting up pressure, the musicians took a nearly unanimous strike authorization vote on September 19.
• Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, Local 148-462 (Atlanta, GA): Musicians face a troubling tactic—replacing live musicians with recorded music during performances. Musicians have distributed informational leaflets at performances, demanding that management respect live musicianship rather than rely on prerecorded tracks.
• The Cleveland Orchestra, Local 4 (Cleveland, OH): After failing to reach an agreement during the 10-day contract extension, the musicians went on strike September 25. Throughout the dispute, Cleveland musicians stood shoulder to shoulder—leveraging social media, leafleting, and picketing to advocate for fair compensation, a voice in auditions, and improved safety. Driven by that solidarity, the musicians agreed to a new three-year contract on September 27 that delivers those priorities.

What It Takes to Win

Connecting the dots between these battles—from Boston and Dayton to San Francisco, Atlanta, Cleveland, and beyond, as well as the Eastern Music Festival, Local 342 (Greensboro, NC), and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Local 145 (Vancouver, BC) in 2025—reveals a truth: management teams often treat musicians as line items on a spreadsheet rather than the heart of an institution. Whether trying to reduce healthcare coverage, slash seasons, or swap living artists for prerecorded tracks, their playbook is predictable.

Today, musicians are demonstrating an ever greater appetite for collective action, engaging in leafleting and social media campaigns and taking strike authorization votes. Employers who doubt the seriousness of the musicians’ commitment to attaining a fair deal do so at their peril, as we saw with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra strike.

Winning at the bargaining table takes more than legal arguments or economic data; we cannot win without the active participation of our musicians. Achieving victory requires visible unity: the unanimous vote of no confidence, the informational leaflets, community petitions signed by patrons, and the courage of members voting for strike authorization when dialogue hits a wall. It is also looking out for one another—knowing that when musicians take a stand, they have the backing of the labor movement and musicians Federation wide standing beside them.

We cannot afford to fight in isolation. By recognizing that the struggles of ballet, opera, and symphony players, recording musicians, freelancers, and theater musicians are the same fight, we build an unbreakable front.

When we stick together, support each other through local battles, and refuse to back down from our worth, we do not just win contracts—we secure the future of live music. In solidarity, we are unstoppable.

Protecting the livelihood, creativity, and identity of professional musicians across all sectors of our industry remains our constant mission. As you’ve read in previous columns, a major focus over recent months has been negotiations for a successor Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA), which covers singles, albums, streaming, radio, vinyl, and other sound recordings produced with the major record companies.

This September issue is our Electronic Media Services Division (EMSD) focus issue, featuring columns from EMSD staff that highlight the work they do every day and demystify our contracts and show how they protect you. In that spirit, I want to extend my deep gratitude to EMSD Director John Painting, Assistant Director Rebecca Gurnee, and the entire EMSD team for their dedicated work. Painting’s insight at the bargaining table has been invaluable this year as we pushed through four rounds of arduous SRLA bargaining sessions, alongside myself, AFM and local officers, the RMA, and our team of working musicians.

Last month’s negotiations were difficult. We entered sessions seeking to address healthcare contributions, update payment systems, and establish access to benefits. And, of course, central to our bargaining is the issue of artificial intelligence. Our position at the table is clear: recorded tracks are the direct product of our labor, skill, and personal identity. We demand three core principles for any use of our work in AI training or output generation: consent, credit, and compensation.

However, record company representatives remain focused on profits and dismissing our claims. Meanwhile, progress toward a favorable agreement stalls because the management bargaining team fails to understand the practical realities working musicians face.

This stance at the bargaining table directly contrasts with the labels’ recent court actions. When major labels sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio for unauthorized scraping, they warned that AI risks replacing human artists. Yet, after settling those lawsuits and licensing their catalogs for AI training, the labels collected payouts while paying recording musicians nothing.

Consequently, the AFM filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York against Universal Music Group, Warner Records, and Atlantic Records to enforce Article 21 of the SRLA—the “New Use” provision. (For details on this lawsuit, see page 10).

Union Action and Member Involvement

In direct response to the labels’ actions during negotiations and their withholding of AI licensing revenue, the AFM is organizing musicians worldwide to build a unified stance against unauthorized AI training. We are mobilizing members to take collective action that builds leverage at the bargaining table, in the courts, and throughout the industry.

The major record companies seek to maximize profits on the backs of working musicians, both at the bargaining table and in their corporate licensing deals. We will not allow them to dictate the future of our industry.

To join the organizing committee, participate in local actions, or learn more about the ongoing campaigns, contact AFM Organizing Services Director Gabe Kristal at gkristal@afm.org. Get involved today—this fight requires all of us.

2027 Motion Picture and Television Contract

While we push forward on the sound recording front, we are also preparing for the upcoming bargaining on the Motion Picture and Television Contract.

Although our current film and television contract runs through June 2027, early preparation and strategic organization are vital to our success. As we prepare for our upcoming preliminary meeting with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), we look forward to working with Greg Hessinger, who recently stepped into the role of president and chief negotiator, replacing longtime president Carol Lombardini. Hessinger brings a distinct background to the table, having worked on both sides of industry negotiations—first as a former labor leader and executive director at both American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and later representing employers as a managing partner in labor law.

In preparation for the 2027 negotiations, the EMSD and Organizing Services departments and the RMA are actively conducting research and developing a contract action team (CAT). Building a strong network of musicians well in advance gives us the structure, communication channels, and strength needed to address working conditions, residuals, and contractual protections across the film and television sectors.

If you are a musician working under this contract, we will be providing more information on how you can get involved. Rank and file musicians are the heart of our union, and we will all work together to make sure the next generation of professional musicians can earn a fair living working under these contracts.

Honoring Labor Day

Finally, as this issue reaches you around Labor Day, let us take a moment to celebrate the history and power of organized labor. From the 40-hour workweek and workplace safety standards to healthcare benefits and fair compensation, every major victory for working people was won through collective action. Labor Day is a direct reminder that the protections we enjoy today exist because working people stood together. As we honor that legacy this month, let it inspire our continued fight for the future of our profession.

For many, August is synonymous with winding down, stepping away from the daily grind, and taking a well-deserved summer vacation. Many symphonic workplaces enjoy a brief summer hiatus. But for union leadership and player conference delegates and members, summer tells a very different story. While the rest of the world slows its pace, our player conferences jump into high gear.

Your AFM leadership attends all of these conferences, so my summer is defined by full schedules, packed agendas, and a lot of travel.

At the conferences, AFM leadership, musicians, and conference officers address the unique working conditions, challenges, and contractual needs of specific segments of our membership. The year’s season began in Dallas, Texas, in late July with the Theatre Musicians Association (TMA) Conference followed by the Regional Orchestra Players Association (ROPA) Conference.

During August, the Organization of Canadian Symphony and Opera Musicians (OCSM) meets in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with a focus on the distinct legal, cultural, and economic landscapes facing Canadian symphonic performers. Finally, the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) gathers in Honolulu, Hawaii, August 19-22.

While racking up travel miles across these destinations might sound like a getaway on paper, make no mistake—these are not vacations. These conferences represent intense, focused work. By bringing members together from different locals, our player conferences strengthen the backbone of the AFM. They bridge geographical gaps, foster deep solidarity, and allow us to share vital information on contract standards, working conditions, and organizing strategies. The collective voice and vision emerging from these meetings guide the priorities and direction of our entire Federation.

Because these summer meetings require absolute commitment, they sometimes demand difficult trade-offs. Due to a scheduling conflict with the TMA conference, I was regrettably unable to attend the upcoming meeting of the Labor Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and Trade Policy for the Office of the US Trade Representative. First appointed to the Committee in 2023, I represent entertainment workers alongside the Department of Professional Employees and Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). While representing our musicians on national policy panels is essential, navigating these overlapping commitments requires striking the right balance for each situation as it arises.

The power of our player conferences reflects a broader synergy: our union is strongest when we’re connected and we work together. To that end, I have also focused efforts on strengthening our alliances with other unions, both nationally and internationally. In today’s interconnected world, the music industry completely transcends borders.

It is not just about showing solidarity—there is also much we can learn from shared experiences and seeing how other labor organizations are growing and changing to meet modern challenges. Musicians tour globally, collaborate internationally, and can instantly reach fans around the world. Because of this, the AFM must also grow, adapt, and innovate with the times if we are to remain strong and relevant.

In addition to our conference travel, August brings us back to the bargaining table to continue negotiations for the Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA) in New York on August 4-6. Protecting our recording musicians, securing critical healthcare coverage, and establishing strong artificial intelligence protections in an evolving industry are essential to our future. Look for a much deeper dive into those negotiations and the work of the Electronic Media Services Division (EMSD) in the September issue of International Musician.

I encourage you to read the feature articles from our Symphonic Services Division (SSD) and symphonic player conference reports in this issue, starting on page 10. This issue’s cover story puts a spotlight on the musicians of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra (Local 101-473), who are pushing back against severe proposed cuts to pay, personnel, and programming. See how the DPO Players Committee is building a courageous campaign alongside the AFM, local labor allies, and dedicated patrons.

Looking ahead, now is also the time to start planning your local Labor Day events, parades, and celebrations as we prepare to honor the power and history of our labor movement together. I look forward to browsing social media and seeing our locals represented at events.

To all who are traveling to represent your locals and conferences this month, I wish you safe travels. I look forward to connecting with many of you on the road and hope you all find well-deserved time to relax with family and friends this summer.

I have just returned from Ottawa, Ontario, where delegates from across the United States and Canada gathered for the 103rd AFM Convention. This convention marked our first return to Canada for an international legislative session since 1973. It was a week of fierce democracy, intense debate, and common purpose, and I could not be prouder of the work we accomplished together to chart the next three years of our Federation.

Conventions are not vacations; they are demanding working sessions where the democratic backbone of our union is tested and strengthened. Over four days, your elected delegates engaged directly with the existential realities facing the modern musician. We did not shy away from the tough conversations. Our industry stands at a critical crossroads, and the choices made on the convention floor reflect a collective determination to create a union that will grow and support all musicians.

We were also reminded that our fight is global and deeply interconnected. We were honored to be joined by an incredible slate of labor leaders and industry partners from across the globe, including representatives from the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), the AFL-CIO, the Musicians’ Union (UK), the International Federation of Musicians (FIM), IATSE, Actors’ Equity, and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA). Together with allies from the AFL-CIO Department of Professional Employees (DPE), the AFM & SAG-AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund, SoundExchange, and the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF), their presence underscored our vital role within the broader entertainment and labor movements.

A cornerstone of our week was celebrating our collective progress. Delegates proudly recognized our newest player conference, the Freelance Musicians Association (FMA), ensuring independent players have representation within our Federation’s governance. We also took time to honor the incredible work being done on the ground. The 2026 Organizing Awards highlight the inspiring, grassroots campaigns that continue to bring new musicians into our union family. The AFM Diversity Awards champion inclusion and diversity and honor locals and individuals who demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity.

Furthermore, delegates rigorously debated and enacted essential structural recommendations and bylaw changes designed to modernize our operations. I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of the delegates who volunteered their time, energy, and passion in Ottawa—your engagement remains the bedrock of our union.

The democratic process proved that while our Federation is vastly diverse, spanning differing geographic regions and musical genres, we are undivided in our core mission. Delegates challenged ideas and refined strategies, but ultimately united behind a shared vision to build power and equity for every working musician.

The message from the convention floor was unmistakable: our strength depends on expanding our ranks. The strategic planning we undertook over the last three years has set a clear path for the future of our union. There is no time to slow down or backtrack; we must remain unified as we move forward.

Driven by this vision, I am fully committed to working with our newly elected International Executive Board to organize musicians from all genres—whether they work in orchestras, in clubs, in theaters, on the road, or in music education—to grow our membership, secure better protections, and build a stronger Federation.

In preparation for the 103rd AFM Convention in Ottawa (June 20-23), I have been looking back on the work of the AFM since the last convention. As I stated in the AFM 2025 Annual Report, it’s clear that the Federation stands at a crossroads. Our greatest strength has always been our unity, but in an era defined by a fluctuating economic landscape and the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, unity alone is no longer enough. To secure our future, we must pair our traditional solidarity with an aggressive, forward-looking strategy.

To ensure this strategy reflects the immediate needs of our musicians, the AFM International Executive Board (IEB) recently launched a comprehensive feedback initiative. Earlier this year, we emailed you a membership survey, which we paired with a series of listening sessions with local leadership across the United States and Canada. While we didn’t get to every local, we are deeply committed to continuing these listening sessions throughout the summer.

The message sent back to us was loud and clear: our technology is out of date, locals need more resources to organize new work, and organizing new work should be the number one priority.

• Organizing New Work: Specifically, 35% of members stated that organizing should be our absolute top priority, followed by negotiating contracts and agreements at 26%.
• Industry Concerns: Our members are deeply concerned about the economic landscape—49% reported that things are “getting worse” for musicians these days, while only 17% feel the industry is “getting better.”
• A Desire to Get Involved: In an encouraging demonstration of solidarity, a massive 25% of members declared: “I am willing to volunteer my time to help organize more employers and get them onto contract.”

Expanding Our Resources

The survey results confirm what the IEB has long recognized. Over the past three years, we have already been actively tracking toward these very goals. Translating this vision into measurable growth, the AFM has begun the move beyond support roles to build a more active organizing model—expanding field resources and developing tools to empower musicians and locals:

• Symphonic Services Department (SSD): We actively expanded our infrastructure by adding dedicated negotiators to defend our orchestral musicians.
• Field Services Department: We rebuilt the field services department, fully staffing it with six international representatives (IRs), and added an IR specializing in local compliance and fiduciary responsibility.
• Freelance Services Department: We’re expanding the department’s reach, adding staff, and investing in digital infrastructure to scale up services for freelance musicians. This increased capacity directly supports the growth of our freelance sector, anchored by the newly recognized Freelance Musicians Association (FMA) player conference.
• Organizing Department: We scaled up operations to an expanded organizing services framework capable of balancing high-density theatrical hubs with the realities of regional touring circuits and unique Canadian labor environments.

The detailed department reports are available in the 2025 Annual Report in the members.AFM.org Document Library.

Planning Our Next Chapter

Providing resources to meet immediate needs is only the first step. To secure our union’s future for the next generation, we must move beyond temporary support and permanently fortify our capacity.

Based on the clear mandate from the membership survey and listening sessions, the IEB has unanimously put forth five recommendations (published in the May issue of the International Musician). These measures will modernize how we do business, inject fresh resources into our locals, and allow us to prioritize aggressive new organizing and communications strategies.

In his column on page 4, Secretary-Treasurer Ken Shirk details how true organizing requires real resources, people, and a structural pivot. The IEB’s recommendations are designed to fund and enforce this framework. I strongly encourage all members, and especially our convention delegates, to read Secretary-Treasurer Shirk’s message for a deep dive into how Recommendation No. 1 and Recommendation No. 2 provide the financial and strategic capacity to organize the thousands of independent musicians who belong in our ranks.

Defining the Future

Right now, the Federation is actively engaged in some of the most critical contract battles and defensive campaigns in our history. We continue to address the threat of artificial intelligence both legislatively and at the bargaining table in our current Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA) negotiations—demanding ironclad contract protections regarding consent, compensation, and credit for machine learning models. Furthermore, we are already structuring our strategy for the upcoming Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) negotiations in 2027, establishing a united front to ensure that musicians’ work used in motion picture, streaming, and television is fiercely protected against digital exploitation.

While we continue to protect our members on major stages and in recording studios, the AFM’s ultimate growth relies on championing independent freelance creators—building a forward-looking union that values every gig, contract, and musician.

If we want a vibrant future, we must shift from a defensive posture to an offensive strategy. Whether a member is performing on a symphonic stage, playing in a theater pit, recording for a major motion picture, or navigating the independent club circuit, they deserve a union that is as dynamic as the art they create. Every working musician in the United States and Canada needs to be able to instantly recognize the AFM, identify a local they can join, and clearly understand how we improve their economic bottom line.