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.
January 29, 2023
by Jennifer Garner, AFM In-House Counsel The AFM is suing NBCUniversal on behalf of scores, or potentially hundreds, of individual musicians for NBC’s habitual breaches of more than a dozen of its obligations under the Television Videotape Agreement. NBC is holding wages and allied benefits hostage, even those that are undisputed, in retaliation for the […]
Read MoreJanuary 29, 2023
In mid-January, musicians for the Fort Wayne Philharmonic rejected the most recent contract offer from management. While the parties have reached agreement on wages for a four-year contract, the strike continues because management is demanding a number of changes to the contract that serve no immediate purpose but would severely undermine musicians’ rights during the […]
Read MoreJanuary 1, 2023
by Wages Argott, AFM Director of Freelance Services and Membership Development As we reach the close of 2022, my first full calendar year at the helm of our Freelance Services Department, I can’t help but find encouragement and sense a large measure of hope for our freelance musician community. Rather than waiting for the industry […]
Read MoreJanuary 1, 2023
An exclusive benefit of AFM membership, GoPro Hosting offers members space for websites, domain name registration, and unlimited email addresses. With more than 400 clients, GoPro Hostinghas helped many members establish their web presence—a necessity for indie and freelance musicians, in particular. The AFM is uniquely suited to serve the web hosting needs of musicians—at […]
Read MoreJanuary 1, 2023
Make Sure You Talk with Your Local About AFM Recording Agreements to Protect Your Work! AFM member recordings are covered under a variety of sound recording agreements, all designed to protect your work and the work of the musicians you hire. Taking into consideration the scope of your work and its intended use is key. […]
Read MoreJanuary 1, 2023
As musicians, we spend a lot of time and effort constantly improving our musical chops and performance skills. Even with perfection, however, there’s no guarantee of success in the music business. The reality of our chosen career path as professional musicians is that our creative vocation is still a business. As a member of the […]
Read MoreJanuary 1, 2023
Leisa Way of Local 226 (Kitchener, ON) uses her platform as performer and concert producer to educate younger musicians on the power of unionism. Singers Aren’t Musicians, and Other Myths There’s a tired old saw passed around among instrumentalists that singers aren’t really musicians. Rather than arguing to the contrary, however, vocalist and producer Leisa […]
Read MoreDecember 23, 2022
Energized by new legislative wins, Democrats are working to help union organization efforts by tackling policies that weaken unions, such as right-to-work laws and employer-mandated captive audience meetings in which employees are warned against organizing or joining a union. Meanwhile, union leaders seek to strengthen National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) funding and staffing to further […]
Read MoreDecember 23, 2022
In early December, the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA), which would require AM/FM stations to pay performance royalties to featured artists, musicians, and vocalists for radio airplay, moved a step closer to passage as the House Judiciary Committee voted favorably to advance the bill. While the AMFA, ultimately, was not included in the final language […]
Read MoreDecember 23, 2022
Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) members and the Los Angeles labor community stood united with striking UAW academic workers at a December 14 rally held at UCLA. The University of California and academic workers have since announced a tentative labor agreement. “It was uplifting to help represent Local 47 and the AFM in supporting the […]
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