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.
April 1, 2026
A Mission of Mentorship and the Power of Representation Most orchestral musicians understand that the job has changed over the last few decades, moving beyond showing up and playing. In order for an orchestra to thrive, musicians often take on other public-facing responsibilities, including contact with donors and community outreach. For flutist Viviana Cumplido Wilsonof […]
Read MoreMarch 31, 2026
Swedish composer and musician Ludwig Göransson of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) was awarded the Oscar for Best Original Score for the film, Sinners. This follows recent wins at the Grammys, Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards, and BAFTAs. It marks Göransson’s third statuette, following his success with Black Panther in 2019 and Oppenheimer in 2024. […]
Read MoreMarch 31, 2026
Members of Local 65-699 (Houston, TX) have won a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with Queensbury Theatre in Houston, marking a significant milestone for live theater musicians in the city. The agreement, which runs from February 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027, was reached following what both parties described as a short and amicable negotiation […]
Read MoreMarch 31, 2026
On February 19, a three-judge panel of the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals issued its decision enforcing an earlier decision of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which held that the Southwest Florida Symphony violated federal law when it prematurely declared impasse and implemented the terms and conditions of its “last, best, final offer” […]
Read MoreMarch 31, 2026
What began as driveway concerts born of pandemic necessity has evolved into a sustainable philanthropic model that pays professional musicians, members of AFM Local 125 (Norfolk, VA), while supporting the Hampton Roads community. Like musicians around the world during the pandemic, Virginia Symphony Orchestra (VSO) musicians found themselves out of work and deprived of both […]
Read MoreMarch 31, 2026
In honor of Women’s History Month, Her Tyme 20xx presented “Fanny Hensel—Ornamental Genius,” a free concert at the Country House Retirement Community in Wilmington, Delaware, on March 8, International Women’s Day. The concert, funded by the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) and supported by a grant from Country House ACTS Community, attracted an audience of […]
Read MoreMarch 1, 2026
by Allen Fogle, International President, Recording Musicians Association and member of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) I came up as a recording musician in an industry powered by our labor and creativity. Like many of you, I learned early that talent and professionalism are only part of what sustains a career. What ultimately makes the […]
Read MoreMarch 1, 2026
Sustaining the Swing Through Every Season Back in 2020, saxophonist and arranger Leigh Pilzer—like pretty much every other musician in the country—was figuring out how to navigate the far-reaching implications of a pandemic on the music industry. A DC native and longtime member of Local 161-710 (Washington, DC), Pilzer and a few colleagues had started […]
Read MoreMarch 1, 2026
The AFM is dedicated to strengthening organizing and collective power through its “Stronger Together” campaign. This initiative combines educational events with direct outreach to musicians to raise awareness of the union among musicians and future members. In December, at the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, the AFM partnered with Local 10-208 […]
Read MoreMarch 1, 2026
Musicians are often called the elite athletes of the art world. Certainly, their technical skill, body mechanics, and notable stamina create the same potential for injury. But unlike athletes, musicians do not have the same access to athletic trainers to assist with strength and conditioning programs. Nor do many have access to paid time off. […]
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