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.
November 1, 2023
Jennifer Wharton’s BonegasmLeader Name: Jennifer WhartonMember: Local 802 (New York City)Genre: Jazz Bio: Jennifer Wharton is a low brass specialist based in New York City. Though getting her start classically, Wharton has deep roots in jazz, commercial, chamber, and Broadway music. Wharton leads the trombone-forward ensemble, Bonegasm, commissioning over 30 works from jazz heavyweights and […]
Read MoreNovember 1, 2023
When a professional musician reads music it is at a longer distance than the average person reading a book. At the same time, they need to monitor the conductor’s motions, which can range from one to 20 feet away—and sometimes they must switch from one instrument to another. Suffice it to say, musicians have many […]
Read MoreOctober 30, 2023
Hollywood writers and members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) in early October, officially ending a 150-day strike. The terms of the new agreement will run from September 25, 2023, through May 1, 2026. “Through solidarity and determination, we have […]
Read MoreOctober 1, 2023
by Steve Wade, ROPA President and member of Local 400 (Hartford-New Haven, CT) The Regional Orchestra Players Association (ROPA) held its 40th conference in Atlanta, July 25-27. By all accounts the event was excellent. Highlights included the first appearance at a conference by then AFM International President-elect Tino Gagliardi and a keynote address by Dr. […]
Read MoreOctober 1, 2023
Service Starts Early Orchestra musicians of a half-century ago would hardly recognize their jobs if they saw most modern orchestras. Certainly, much of the repertoire is the same, but working conditions have been vastly improved, and musicians today typically take on many other duties to ensure their own futures. Amy Hess of Local 10-208 (Chicago, […]
Read MoreSeptember 28, 2023
TSA Airport Security Screening Update It’s important to be aware that the TSA is in the process of updating security scanners at airports across the country. These new TSA screeners are smaller than previous equipment, and are causing delays and burdensome confusion for some musicians. The new machines’ smaller entry size (24.5″ W x 16.5″ […]
Read MoreSeptember 28, 2023
On September 10, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) at the final 2023 Curtain Up! Live from Broadway concert in Times Square. The tribute recognized MPTF’s work enriching lives and uniting communities through the power of music. “The MPTF team is so grateful […]
Read MoreSeptember 21, 2023
The Philadelphia Orchestra’s musicians boarded buses bound for a scheduled North Carolina performance tour “under protest,” despite what Local 77 (Philadelphia, PA) leaders called stalled contract talks, according to a union statement. The orchestra’s performances at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are the musicians’ first since their contract expired September 10. They […]
Read MoreSeptember 19, 2023
On the opening night of the ballet’s 2023 season, the Musicians of the New York City Ballet Orchestra (NYCB) organized a rally outside of Lincoln Center. Hundreds of musicians and supporters took to the sidewalks to demonstrate their support. The NYCB musicians’ contract has expired, and they are demanding compensation for the sacrifices they have […]
Read MoreSeptember 1, 2023
There is no denying that internet streaming is the fastest changing area in which Electronic Media Services Division (EMSD) administers agreements. While we attempt to always provide the most up-to-date information possible to musicians, local officers, and employers alike, the last thing we want to find is that someone has made decisions based on information […]
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