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.
March 1, 2021
As an Asian woman, freelance percussionist Chihiro Shibayama of Local 802 (New York City) feels a certain sense of responsibility working in a male-dominated field. “I am definitely aware of my status,” says Shibayama, citing a recent statistic of how few female drummers hold Broadway chairs in theater pits. “To be fair,” she adds, “that’s […]
Read MoreMarch 1, 2021
New research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that union membership increased in the US in 2020. According to BLS data, union membership rose to 10.8% in 2020, up .5% from 2019. While the total number of wage and salary workers belonging to unions (14.3 million) was down by 321,000, or 2.2%, from 2019, […]
Read MoreMarch 1, 2021
The 2021 Grammy Awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 14. The ceremony, hosted by Trevor Noah, had been scheduled for January 31 but was rescheduled for Sunday, March 14, due to the coronavirus pandemic. “The deteriorating COVID situation in Los Angeles, with hospital services being overwhelmed, ICUs having reached capacity, and new guidance […]
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On January 15, the National Alliance for Audition Support (NAAS) rolled out its “Recommended Audition and Tenure Guidelines.” NAAS is a collaborative effort of The Sphinx Organization, the New World Symphony, and the League of American Orchestras, with substantial input and leadership from Black and Latinx professional musicians. The audition and tenure guidelines were the […]
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A new contract for musicians of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra (KSO) went into effect January 4. The agreement comes after a period of high tensions between musicians and management. Representing KSO’s musicians, Local 546 (Knoxville, TN) filed a labor grievance after the musicians were furloughed with less than a week’s notice in August. Under the […]
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On January 14, the Pacific Symphony announced a three-year musicians’ contract extension, effective through August 31, 2024. The agreement reduces wages by 30% in the current season, but restores salaries by the 2023-24 season. It also establishes a bi-weekly, rather than per-service, pay structure. Orchestra musicians are members of Local 7 (Orange County, CA).
Read MoreMarch 1, 2021
On November 26, 2020, the musicians of the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, members of Local 6 (San Francisco, CA), ratified a two-year extension agreement of their 2015-20 agreement that runs from December 1, 2020, through November 30, 2022. The musicians and management had steady communication from March until reaching agreement in late November; a mediator […]
Read MoreMarch 1, 2021
It is going to be quite a tax season this year. Many tax preparers (including me) since last March have gone virtual for their own safety as well as for the safety of their clients. With the technologywe have available to us now, documents can be securely uploaded to cloud portals, meetings can be done […]
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Representatives of multiple arts, entertainment, and media unions on February 12 announced a new policy agenda aimed at advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in their respective industries. During a press conference, hosted by the AFL-CIO’s Department of Professional Employees, the union leaders called on Congress to take action on multiple fronts, including: Passing the […]
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The David Angel Jazz Ensemble Out on the Coast is a triple CD set released by the David Angel Jazz Ensemble, a Los Angeles-based 13-piece jazz band. The style of the music—which is all composed or arranged by David Angel—is described as “Gil Evans meets J.S. Bach with all 13 musicians playing polyphonic lines.” It […]
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