From San Juan to Ottawa: FMA’s Journey to Official Recognition

June 1, 2026

Wages Argott  -  AFM Director of Freelance Services and Membership Development

by Wages Argott, AFM Director of Freelance Services and Membership Development

April 16 marked a historic and truly meaningful turning point in the history of the AFM. At the quarterly meeting of the International Executive Board in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the AFM’s elected leadership voted unanimously to officially recognize the Freelance Musicians Association (FMA) as a player conference within the structure of the Federation.

This action not only consolidated and solidified a home and standing for a growing binational body of working independent musicians, but also ensured that, for the first time, freelance musicians would have their own voice and representation at the 103rd International AFM Convention in Ottawa, Ontario.

Armed with printed and digital materials ranging from financial documents and statistics to bylaws and mission statements, Local 6 (San Francisco, CA) President Kale Cumings and I stood before the assembled officials, senior staff, and counsel to present an impassioned, yet pragmatic, argument for the recognition of the FMA.

Building on the efforts of those who came before us—including inaugural Director of Freelance Services Paul Sharpe, my predecessor—we discussed the rapid development of the current FMA over the previous seven months, detailing our initial successes and outlining our future plans. While the need for such a representative body could not be more urgent, we understood that, in order to sustain our momentum and accommodate growth and development, structure would be essential.

As IEB member and Local 161-710 (Washington, DC) President Ed Malaga noted in the ensuing discussion, seeking the FMA’s recognition within view of the Caribe Hilton carried unique significance. The neighboring hotel played a central role in a landmark 1982 National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruling that dealt a significant blow to the AFM’s ability to collectively bargain and organize freelance work in venues.

Through the grassroots efforts of freelance organizing committees and initiatives like Fair Trade Music and Venuology, the FMA empowers musicians to act collectively in creative and resourceful ways to regain our standing in the workforce and our power in the workplace.

For my part, this moment represents the culmination of five years of strategic planning, musician organizing, and countless hours of brainstorming, deep conversation, and listening to the stories of so many freelance musicians. For others involved, including members of our steering committee, it reflects a vision more than 20 years in the making.

I am extremely proud and honored to have worked, from moment one, alongside Local 76-493 (Seattle, WA) President, and now FMA President, Nate Omdal. Our dedicated team has spent so much time and energy over the past five years activating our freelance base and solidifying the conference’s shape and purpose.

Open to all AFM members in good standing, the FMA unites freelance musicians across all genres and sectors of musical work by identifying shared challenges in live performance, touring, recording and digital media, immigration, education, and healthcare. The FMA supports and amplifies local power through freelance organizing committees, building cross-genre solidarity and channeling local concerns into a coordinated national strategy. Through its official standing as a recognized player conference, the FMA can now provide structured input to Federation leadership and a unified voice for independent musicians.

To learn more, add your voice to the FMA collective, and get involved in our work on behalf of all independent musicians, please visit afmfreelance.org.

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