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, 2022
Under the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra’s August 2021 collective bargaining agreement, audiology visits and custom earplugs are included for every musician.
Read MoreOctober 20, 2022
Members in good standing who reside in or were employed as musicians in areas designated by FEMA as Federal Disaster Areas for Individual Assistance are encouraged to apply to the AFM Hurricane Relief Fund. Download the AFM Hurricane Relief Fund application from the AFM website and follow the instructions.
Read MoreOctober 1, 2022
by Steve Wade, ROPA President, Hartford Symphony and Member of Local 400 (Hartford-New Haven, CT) and Karen Sandene, ROPA Secretary, Omaha Symphony and Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra, and Member of Locals 70-558 (Omaha, NE) and 463 (Lincoln, NE) The 2022 Regional Orchestra Players’ Association (ROPA) Conference was held in Orange County, California, July 26-28. This event […]
Read MoreOctober 1, 2022
by Elizabeth Andrews, OCSM Secretary, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra Member, and Member of Locals 149 (Toronto, ON) and 293 (Hamilton, ON) From Monday, August 8, until Friday, August 12, the beautiful Hotel Saskatchewan in downtown Regina was the site of the 2022 Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians (OCSM) Conference, our first in-person meeting since 2019. While […]
Read MoreOctober 1, 2022
Teeth grinding, temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ), muscle cramps, dry mouth, cold sores, and calluses are all potential problems for wind musicians, which may be aggravated by performance. Repetitive movement, excessive practice, and stress can cause dental and orofacial problems. It is not uncommon for musicians to experience TMJ, muscle strain, or focal dystonia (failure of […]
Read MoreSeptember 29, 2022
In September, the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) scholarship program awarded more than $165,000 in educational grants to 120 students. The MPTF scholarship fund was established in June 2020 to help AFM member families during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 90 students whose parents are members of the AFM received the MPTF’s Music Family scholarships […]
Read MoreSeptember 29, 2022
Former AFM President Victor Fuentealba turned 100 years old on September 1. A lifetime resident of Baltimore, Fuentealba has been a member of Local 40-543 (Baltimore, MD) for 81 years. He held leadership roles at both the local and national level, serving as International Federation President from 1978 to 1987. More than 125 friends, family, […]
Read MoreSeptember 25, 2022
On September 22, Congress moved a step closer to ending a decades-long injustice against music creators with the Senate introduction of S. 4932, American Music Fairness Act (AMFA), sponsored by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Alex Padilla (D-CA). An identical bill (HR 4130) has already been introduced and received a hearing in the House, setting Congress up […]
Read MoreSeptember 15, 2022
The Musician Performance Trust Fund sponsored over 220 events in the US and Canada in recognition of Labor Day 2022. “A Celebration of Live Music, a Labor of Love” showcased the impact admission-free live music can have in communities.
Read MoreSeptember 1, 2022
by Christopher Anderson-Bazzoli, President of RMA Los Angeles and Sidney Hopson, RMALA Executive Board Member In the three years since we ratified our last film and TV contracts, studio streaming platforms have continued to ramp up, while musicians’ livelihoods have ramped down. In 2019, “new media” made up 14% of the film and tv contracts […]
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