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 28, 2017
Crush Drums & Percussion’s stunning Sublime Birch series delivers full and fat tones found in vintage drums with the advantages of modern shell hardware and design
Read MoreJuly 28, 2017
In 1978, jazz in our country largely remained a boys’ club. Two Kansas City women, Carol Comer and Dianne Gregg, challenged that inequitable standard.
Read MoreJuly 28, 2017
Artistic Citizenship brings together the perspectives of artists, scholars, educators, policy-makers, and activists to investigate the system of values surrounding artistic-educational endeavors.
Read MoreJuly 28, 2017
In this book, written for children ages five to 10, author Lucy A. Warner presents 12 classical composers as superheroes.
Read MoreJuly 28, 2017
Casio’s Cleviano AP-270 digital piano boasts a redesigned cabinet with all controls located on the side panel. The simulated ebony and ivory weighted, scaled, hammer action keyboard provides the feel, depth, and integrity of an acoustic piano.
Read MoreJuly 24, 2017
Once upon a time there was a musicians’ local of the AFM. They didn’t really know much about the ways of the nonmusician or “civilian” world. The local did its best to assist member musicians. They were generally happy in their musician world, talking about music and instruments, telling and listening to stories about their lives and gigs, and solving problems in the symphonic workplace. But they weren’t satisfied. Musicians were still struggling to find work and they could tell the civilians were being deprived of the amazing art form that had been developed and passed along through generations.
Read MoreJuly 17, 2017
AFM Local 105 (Spokane, WA) member Kristin Joham has been awarded a $1,000 Union Plus scholarship. Joham, who has been a member of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra and adjunct professor at Eastern Washington University since 2008, plans to study speech and hearing sciences.
Read MoreJuly 17, 2017
I am happy to write this article on behalf of the AFM Diversity Committee. I have been an AFM member since 1989. I feel proud to be a member.
Read MoreJuly 13, 2017
AFM President Ray Hair announced that Robert DiPaola now leads the AFM and SAG-AFTRA Fund as its chief executive officer.
Read MoreJuly 13, 2017
In mid-July pro-union workers at Nissan Motor Company’s Mississippi plant filed petitions with the National Labor Relations Board seeking a vote on union representation from the United Auto Workers (UAW).
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