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 13, 2014
by John Stiernberg, member Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) Planning is important to success in the music business. There are strategic plans, marketing plans, sales plans, and financial plans—the list goes on. They are all important. The primary value of any plan is decision support. A good plan provides a platform for making critically important […]
Read MoreJuly 11, 2014
by Maria Warner-Dowrich, AFM EMSD East Coast Office Contract Adminstrator Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” —Helen Keller Being a newcomer to the AFM Electronic Media Services Division (EMSD), and a part of the everyday ins and outs of that environment, has given me a new and intense perspective […]
Read MoreJuly 10, 2014
Electronic Media at the AFM by Patrick M. Varriale, AFM EMSD Assistant Director In October, I will be celebrating my 40th anniversary at the AFM—all in the Recording Department/Electronic Media Services Division. It’s been a long journey, yet in so many ways, it doesn’t feel nearly that long ago that I answered a simple newspaper […]
Read MoreJuly 9, 2014
by Wiliam F. Thomas, AFM EMSD Director and Assistant to the President Welcome to the July 2014 edition of International Musician! In addition to being my first article for this esteemed publication, the July IM also marks the return of more regular coverage of the Electronic Media Services Division (EMSD) in the publication. From our […]
Read MoreJuly 8, 2014
AFM Member Honored at Boston University At commencement ceremonies held May 18, Boston University College of Fine Arts music Associate Professor Terry Everson, a member of Local 9-535 (Boston, MA), was recognized as a 2014 recipient of the Metcalf Award for Excellence in Teaching. Students, faculty, and alumni nominate candidates for the $5,000 prize […]
Read MoreJuly 7, 2014
The website Marketplace ran a story about Lionsgate offshoring the film’s score to a studio in Macedonia called F.A.M.E’S for much cheaper rates. Composer John Debney, recorded the soundtrack at F.A.M.E’S for cheaper rates than what would be acceptable to AFM musicians. Read or listen to the piece: http://mktplc.org/1qrnLyn “[Laurent Koppitz, the founder of F.A.M.E.’S] said that if […]
Read MoreJuly 7, 2014
by Marc Sazer, President Recording Musicians Association (RMA) and Member of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) We have been involved in a variety of efforts to advance the interests of AFM recording musicians over the course of this year. Looking back, it is difficult to know where to begin. The Recording Musicians Association (RMA) participated […]
Read MoreJuly 5, 2014
by Joe Parente, AFM International Executive Board Member and President of Local 77 (Philadelphia, PA) Grievance and arbitration are powerful tools for defending a member in the workplace. Most collective bargaining agreements contain a grievance and arbitration provision. For the most part, these provisions come into play when there is a dismissal, either for “just […]
Read MoreJuly 4, 2014
Pittsburgh Symphony Plans Concerts in Canada and North Carolina Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) will perform two concerts as part of the Lanaudière Festival, which takes place near Montreal, in July 2015. The trip will mark PSO’s third appearance at the festival; it most recently performed there in 2012. The orchestra had previously announced that […]
Read MoreJuly 3, 2014
TSA Confiscates McBride’s Bow In June, Local 802 (New York City) member Christian McBride arrived in Saskatoon, Canada, for a concert only to discover that his bow was missing from his case. “Now that it’s confirmed, I can tell you that good ol’ TSA confiscated (aka STOLE) my brand new bow right out of my […]
Read More