Now More Than Ever: TEMPO for the Future for All Musicians

June 1, 2026

Ben Kessler  -  Ben Kessler, AFM Director of Government Affairs

As we bring together musicians and leaders from across the country for the 103rd AFM Convention, we are focused directly on the evolving realities of our industry. For over a century, the American Federation of Musicians has worked to protect the livelihoods and labor rights of all musicians. While our mission has remained the same, the modern landscape requires a practical and proactive approach to legislative defense.

Because federal law strictly prohibits union dues from being used for political purposes, the Taskforce for Employment of Musicians Promotional Organization (TEMPO) is our only bipartisan political action committee dedicated solely to giving musicians a voice. TEMPO contributions support lawmakers and candidates who fight for the issues we care about on both sides of the aisle. To ensure lawmakers support our workforce, we must actively back the leaders who champion our industry, regardless of political party.

The Convention Challenge

Confronting our challenges demands a consistent presence in Washington, DC. That is why, at this convention, we are officially launching the new TEMPO campaign: Now More than Ever.

Leading this campaign is a dedicated team committed to strengthening our political presence. Please join me in recognizing Sharon Montgomery, secretary-treasurer of Local 65-699 (Houston, TX), who steps into her role as the new TEMPO committee chair. Montgomery’s leadership at the local level and deep understanding of our members’ needs will be invaluable as we navigate these legislative efforts.

I also want to acknowledge AFM Director of Communications Antoinette Follett, for her strategic thinking in getting the TEMPO word out and Sande Grier, our TEMPO contributions coordinator, who works closely with me in the DC office. Her years of hands-on dedication have ensured that every contribution is recorded properly.

The Medallion Club Campaign

To kick off this critical initiative, we are asking every delegate, officer, and attendee at the 103rd Convention to make a powerful statement of solidarity. We are asking for a voluntary contribution of $103—one dollar for every convention milestone—to support the TEMPO fund for the fights ahead. Every attendee who steps up to meet this challenge will be recognized with a Medallion Club button and canvas TEMPO tote bag.

When you wear a Medallion Club button on the convention floor, you are demonstrating that you understand the importance of your donation. You are signaling to your colleagues across the Federation that you are actively investing in the protection of musicians.

Why Now More Than Ever?

• Combating Artificial Intelligence and Protecting Digital Replicas: The rise of unregulated AI poses an existential threat to human artistry. We must have transparency in machine learning. Without it, there is no basis for enforcing creators’ rights. That is why the approaches outlined in the TRAIN Act and the CLEAR Act are part of any serious approach to regulating artificial intelligence. Beyond transparency, Congress must pass the NO FAKES Act as a meaningful first step toward protecting artists from AI exploitation.
• Artist Visas: When artist visa processing in the United States doesn’t work as intended, all communities suffer. The AFM is working alongside a diverse group of stakeholders, at every level of government, to fix a system that has been broken for too long.
• The Fight for Fair Performance and Streaming Rights: For decades, the large corporations that own the vast majority of terrestrial radio stations have profited off our labor without paying a single cent to performers. We are pushing hard to pass the American Music Fairness Act to close this archaic loophole. Concurrently, the Protect Working Musicians Act would grant independent creators the legal right to collectively negotiate with dominant streaming platforms and AI developers to meaningfully address structural inequities.
• Tax Fairness for Working Musicians: The financial realities of being a musician mean heavy out-of-pocket expenses. We are actively lobbying for the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act, which updates antiquated income thresholds to allow working artists to deduct ordinary business expenses. We are also backing the Tax Fairness for Workers Act to make union dues fully tax-deductible once again.
• Securing the Right to Organize: To ensure all musicians can collectively bargain for better wages, healthcare, and stable retirement benefits without corporate interference, we continue to champion the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act.
• Expanding Arts Education and Federal Support for the Arts: We are advocating for the Arts Education for All Act to expand arts programming in schools and fuel a healthy pipeline for future professionals. We are calling for National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funding of at least $1 per capita or roughly $336 million. NEA grants create jobs for musicians—with strong workplace protections—in all states and jurisdictions.
• Ticketing Reform: AFM supports federal and state measures to empower musicians and protect fans. Meaningful ticketing regulations include upfront fee transparency, a ban on speculative tickets, and a cap on resale cost.

We cannot afford to be passive observers while corporate tech interests and outdated laws dictate our future. Legislative advocacy is a necessity.

Building the Movement

While this campaign will start with our delegates at the convention, we are looking for all locals to work to share the message and collect donations from all members across the country. Meeting the $103 threshold is incredibly important now more than ever, but we are also open to any donation of any size to grow this movement. Every dollar strengthens our collective hand.

Our history proves that when musicians unite, our collective voice is undeniable. Let’s work in Washington with the resources, determination, and political capital necessary to protect our livelihoods. Look for the TEMPO booth, step up for the $103 challenge, wear your Medallion Circle button with pride, and let’s secure our future—Now More than Ever.

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