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.
June 1, 2016
The Michael Kelly Patriot Striped Ebony features a distinctive ebony top and mahogany body, with five-ply white-black binding, as well as a mahogany set neck with single-ply white binding and double-adjustable truss rod.
Read MoreJune 1, 2016
Today, singer, songwriter, and composer Paul Williams is a different man than he was at the height of his music career. Now President of ASCAP, Williams says that his two biggest passions are recovery and artists’ rights.
Read MoreJune 1, 2016
Following are some general tips to follow to help avoid strain and injury:
Read MoreJune 1, 2016
Everywhere I look there are cusps! It seems that if we can just … press on … a little … further … we’re going to be able to look back and see how all of the struggles of the last number of years have led to identifiable improvements.
Read MoreMay 24, 2016
The GP-400BK Casio Celviano Grand Hybrid delivers new advances in tone and feel. For realistic playing comfort, its keys are made of wood, using the same materials and process as C. Bechstein grand pianos
Read MoreMay 22, 2016
The stories are strangely familiar: adjunct professors fighting for better wages and working conditions—not unlike fast-food employees fighting for minimum wage. The workload for fulltime professors and adjuncts is nearly identical, but the starting salary for full-time professors at most institutions is typically three to four times higher than an adjunct. According to an […]
Read MoreMay 21, 2016
Pressure is mounting for Michigan lawmakers to find more funding for Detroit Public Schools, after the teachers union called for another day of sickouts over possible “payless paydays” for employees this summer. Emergency Manager Steven Rhodes urged state lawmakers to pass a $715 million package to rescue the debt-ridden district. A union-sponsored protest last May 2 closed 94 of the district’s 97 schools.
Read MoreMay 19, 2016
Various North Carolina farmers affiliated with RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company illegally hired children under 13 years old to harvest tobacco crops, a recent report revealed. Commissioned by the tobacco company, the audit found that 40% of its contractor farms employed underage workers, violating the Federal law on child labor. In particular, 16% of minors (under […]
Read MoreMay 19, 2016
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has reported that Verizon sent a letter to striking workers encouraging them to cross their picket line. At 36,000 employees, the strike is the biggest American work stoppage since 2011 and, according to experts, it could have far-reaching effects on both workers and employers.
Read MoreMay 18, 2016
The Ocean Way Audio HR4 is an accurate, wide-dynamic range monitor speaker. Its console top, 25.5-inch-wide design features integrated two-way dual-horn directivity control, delivering a stunning 100 x 40-degree dispersion pattern over a wide audio range. Its massive horizontal “sweet-spot” delivers a consistent stereo image, even to the far corners of a room. For those […]
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