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.
September 1, 2026
The rigor of playing an instrument, performing complex and demanding physical movements on a daily basis, means musicians are at high risk for tendonitis, bursitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Repetitive movement, especially for extended periods, can significantly strain muscles and joints. Back pain and pain of the upper extremities are common, whether it’s shoulder pain […]
Read MoreSeptember 1, 2026
Versatility on Stage, Activism Behind the Scenes On her Instagram page, violinist and violist Marta Sofia Honer of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) cheekily describes herself as “one-half experimental artist” and “one-half string for hire session rat.” It’s a neat summary of her career, heavily overlain these days with a healthy dose of union activism […]
Read MoreAugust 31, 2026
August 27th, 2026 — The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada will never endorse a trade agreement that threatens Canadian sovereignty. The AFM supports the Canadian government’s sensible decision to suspend trade negotiations with the United States. Ensuring union members can safely and efficiently work across North America remains our top priority. We continue to pursue […]
Read MoreAugust 31, 2026
Today (August 25th), the entire community of professional musicians mourns the loss of an irreplaceable icon and a generous heart: Dolly Parton. While the world knows her as a global superstar and philanthropist, we at the American Federation of Musicians of the US & Canada and Local 257 (Nashville Musicians Association) knew her as a […]
Read MoreAugust 31, 2026
The Department of Commerce has published a request for comment regarding imposing tariffs on “brass-wind instruments and their parts and accessories” along with other steel, aluminum, and copper products. This proposal is the direct result of Conn Selmer closing its Eastlake, Ohio, instrument manufacturing facility. On June 30, Conn Selmer closed the plant that had […]
Read MoreAugust 31, 2026
On June 5, the AFM filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York against Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group, later adding Atlantic Recording Corp. The lawsuit alleges that these recording companies violated their collective bargaining agreement with the AFM, the Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA), by […]
Read MoreJuly 30, 2026
Most advanced student and professional bows are made of Pernambuco wood from the threatened Pernambuco tree native to the Atlantic forests in Brazil. The AFM, in collaboration with League of American Orchestras and other organizations, has created a “Know Your Bow” campaign to help bow owners document basic facts about the wood used in their […]
Read MoreJuly 30, 2026
Army veteran and Local 40-543 (Baltimore, MD) member Chuck Cook is running to represent District 33B in the Maryland House of Delegates. After advancing from the June primary, Cook is now focusing his campaign momentum entirely on the November general election. Cook’s platform focuses heavily on labor protection, community service, and robust advocacy for working […]
Read MoreJuly 30, 2026
Members of the Boston Musicians Association, Local 9-535 (Boston, MA), joined nurses and clinicians on the picket line at Brigham and Women’s Hospital on July 9, standing in solidarity with members of the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) amid what became the largest healthcare labor dispute in Massachusetts history. On July 8, approximately 4,000 registered nurses […]
Read MoreJuly 30, 2026
On June 16, drummer Harold Jones, a member of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA), was honored by the Musicians’ Enduring Legacy Organization (MELO) at a private event at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s famed Appel Room in New York City. MELO’s mission is to tell the stories of musicians, whether household names or lesser-known players, who […]
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