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.
November 1, 2014
by Bruce Fife, AFM International Executive Board Member and President of Local 99 (Portland, OR) We are the union. It’s our union, and it works on a pretty simple premise that, when put into practice, can be used to create amazing outcomes. People try to make it more complicated than that, but the basis couldn’t be […]
Read MoreNovember 1, 2014
At any given week each year, there are an average of 150 full-time AFM musicians touring throughout the US and Canada, in 20-plus musicals and three circuses. In addition to these traveling artists, touring shows provide part-time employment to hundreds of local musicians. Most productions travel with only a small core group of musicians, and […]
Read MoreOctober 30, 2014
The Kansas City Orchestra played the national anthem before Tuesday’s World Series game. “It was fantastic,” said the music director Michael Stern, “The energy was amazing.” The musicians were excited to play and were even given free tickets to the game. “We felt like rock stars out there.” said Michael Gordon and Cellist John Eadie […]
Read MoreOctober 7, 2014
Scholarship for Working Musicians The Future of Music Policy Summit is just around the corner and it is important that as many musicians attend as possible. This is why a limited number of musicians will be granted a scholarship so they will be able to attend. Not only that, but one of the scholarship attendees will be given […]
Read MoreOctober 7, 2014
Johnny Cash Exhibit The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix is getting a new addition to its already astounding collection. A Johnny Cash exhibit honoring the country music star along with the the Carter family has been unveiled. This exhibit features items never displayed for the public by what is considered the family that popularized country music. John Carter Cash […]
Read MoreOctober 6, 2014
Future of Music Policy Summit “Music never stops evolving, and the music industry is no different. Understanding the driving forces behind that change is more important now than ever. For more than thirteen years, the Future of Music Policy Summit has brought together the creators and the curators, the developers and the debaters, the managers […]
Read MoreOctober 1, 2014
Legislation was introduced today in the US Congress to amend Section 181 of the US tax code that would disqualify producers from obtaining taxpayer money to subsidize their films, if US jobs are offshored. Section 181 is currently worth $400 million in yearly subsidies to the motion picture industry. H.R 5497, the Film Incentive Reform […]
Read MoreOctober 1, 2014
The AFM, along with Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) and the Recording Musicians Association of Los Angeles (RMALA), applauded California state leaders for expanding California’s Film and Television Job Retention Act. The passage of AB 1839 expands funding to $330 million per year for the next five years, more than tripling the current allocation. The […]
Read MoreOctober 1, 2014
Distinctive Design and Sound The Line6 Amplifi 75 high performance amp looks as unique as it sounds. Always an innovator, the folks at Line6 have come up with a five-speaker, full-range stereo array that delivers killer tone with more than 200 amp sounds and effects. It also serves as a full-featured Bluetooth speaker system for listening […]
Read MoreOctober 1, 2014
Omnipotent Omni Cymbal Building on the sonic contrast and versatility of AAX Omni introduced in 2010, the new HHX Omni JoJo Mayer cymbal takes its sonic properties to a whole new level. HHX Omni provides more nuanced tone on the ride surface. It adds the dimension of playing with the shoulder, which has a wonderful […]
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