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.
July 19, 2018
The Bluegrass Hall of Fame and Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky, has revealed the details of its grand opening set for October 18-20.
Read MoreJuly 19, 2018
At the 155th performance of Springsteen on Broadway, the Boss, a member of Locals 399 (Asbury Park, NJ) and 47 (Los Angeles, CA) provided an unexpected encore performance of “This Hard Land.”
Read MoreJuly 18, 2018
We’re in a pivotal time in the history of the United States. We can agree to disagree on many things, but as musicians, we have to acknowledge the great wealth that immigrants brought to our country.
Read MoreJuly 16, 2018
This summer the Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians (OCSM) Conference will be held at the Hotel Pur in Quebec City. All orchestral musicians are invited to observe our open sessions from August 14-16. For the afternoon session on the 15th and the morning session on the 16th, we will have simultaneous English/French translation available. On those days presenters and participants will be able to work in the official language of their choice.
Read MoreJuly 12, 2018
The debate on the Mozart Effect—the notion that listening to classical music can boost brain power—remains open.
Read MoreJuly 12, 2018
Classic FM has released a list of what it considers the 10 best women conductors of today.
Read MoreJuly 12, 2018
Live Nation, in partnership with Cisco and TBD Labs, conducted a first-of-its-kind experiment that measured the brain waves of fans attending a St. Vincent concert.
Read MoreJuly 10, 2018
As businesses dig deeper into the new tax code, they have discovered a provision that affects unions, churches, and other nonprofits and could force many of them to have to file taxes for the first time ever. As part of the Republican effort to strip the code of tax breaks for benefits like parking and […]
Read MoreJuly 4, 2018
Welcome to the 2018 Symphonic Services Division (SSD) special edition of the International Musician! In this issue we focus attention on a range of musician-led initiatives to connect musicians with their communities in ways that yield benefits for all involved.
Read MoreJuly 2, 2018
Oboist Michael Lisicky of Local 40-543 (Baltimore, MD) was schooled in collective action during his first full-time orchestra position with the Savannah Symphony. “It was the most supportive and organized group of musicians,” he says. “To be part of a union body in a very nonunion town was a great bonding experience. That’s how I came to understand the power of a union and how to work collectively.”
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