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.
First, I must say, I am proud to see so many musicians standing up during this time of political turmoil. During the past few months, we have witnessed unprecedented attacks against due process and freedom of speech on our streets, in our classrooms, and in our workspaces, most recently with the suspension of the Jimmy […]
Read MoreDespite the best of intentions, life for most of us amounts to a series of reactions, well-considered or otherwise. The organisms of nature, of which we humans are a subset, seek to exist in a place of comfort. If undisturbed, there we organisms remain, content. Only when that familiar contentment is disturbed do we react. […]
Read MoreThe world we live and work in is constantly changing. Corporations make advancements, governments make legislation, and we must speak up to defend and protect our income streams. In advance of the fall budget, the Canadian Office submitted the following recommendations. 1)Implement a new Live Performing Arts Tax Credit (LPTC) to ignite a renaissance in […]
Read MoreIngredients: 1 part union musicians; 1 part other local unions; 1 part local organizations; 1 part local elected representatives Start by gathering a group of musicians and identifying core issues. Sprinkle in a survey, followed by member-to-member conversations. Share information, take it to a musician’s union meeting, develop consensus, and let rise. Next, fold in […]
Read MoreAmid the uproar following ABC’s decision to take Jimmy Kimmel off the air, one party largely managed to escape the public’s ire. Before the network announced its decision, Nexstar, the largest owner of television stations in the country, stated that it would preempt the program on its ABC affiliates indefinitely because of “offensive and insensitive” […]
Read MorePlaying with Purpose: A Mission to Elevate Women in Bass Anyone who plays an instrument gets used to fielding the same or similar comments particular to that instrument. Horn players, for example, get asked about the puddles of liquid they leave behind on the stage floor. For bass players—especially those who might be less than […]
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