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.
August 31, 2024
“Firing dancers? Not the answer” and “Union busting is disgusting!” rang out from nearly 200 protesters marching in front of Dallas Black Dance Theatre. The rally on August 17, led by the national labor union American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), was in protest of auditions taking place at the dance company to replace main […]
Read MoreAugust 31, 2024
Musicians who perform for Arden Theatre productions have successfully filed a petition for recognition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to be represented by Local 77 (Philadelphia, PA). The request followed a nod from a “supermajority” of musicians signing union cards. “This was actually musician driven,” says Local 77 President Ellen Trainer of the […]
Read MoreAugust 31, 2024
Musician Elise Witt of Local 1000 (Nongeographic) uses singing and songwriting to teach students English and says, “Sometimes a concept that is hard for students to grasp becomes easy when we write a song about it.” In 2009, she became the founder of the music program at Global Village Project (GVP), a middle school for teenage refugee girls […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2024
Right-Wing Plans Are a Threat to Musicians’ Economic Future Now, more than ever, it is important to make our voices heard, protect our livelihoods, and support the efforts of our union colleagues across the country when voting in the upcoming election. This is the year for professional musicians to vote to preserve the economic advances […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2024
On June 26, country music legend and Local 257 (Nashville, TN) member Randy Travis and SoundExchange President and CEO Michael Huppe testified on Capitol Hill in support of the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA). The hearing, titled “Radio, Music, and Copyrights: 100 Years of Inequity for Recording Artists,” was held by the House Judiciary Subcommittee […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2024
by Laurence Hofmann, AFM Symphonic Services Division Communications and Data Coordinator; Immigration Department Visa Consultation Administrator; Touring/Theatre/Booking Division Contract Administrator The AFM, together with the symphonic player conferences, has long been collecting data about wages and working conditions of affiliated orchestras. In 2015, a database was built to address environmental concerns about the waste of […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2024
by Todd Jelen, AFM Symphonic Service Division Negotiator/Organizer/Educator We often see the external show of power and solidarity from our AFM members and other union members during contract campaigns and new organizing drives. While these are important instances in our collective histories, they are not the only times we are able to internally organize our […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2024
by Jane Owen, AFM Symphonic Services Division Negotiator Keeping track of your orchestra’s finances should be an ongoing process, and not something to be considered solely in the months before contract negotiations. Many committee members are tracking finances already. For those who are new to an orchestra committee (OC), or have never looked at an […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2024
by Adam DeSorgo, AFM Symphonic Services Division Negotiator “Oh, it’s such a minor violation, I don’t want to file a grievance over it.” “We shouldn’t antagonize the management.” “Filing a grievance will be provocative.” “We’ve gone five years without filing a grievance because our relationship with management is good.” It’s not uncommon to hear some […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2024
en francais : Le KWS sauvé par la solidarité de ses musiciens by Bernard LeBlanc, AFM Symphonic Services, Canada, Directorand Richard Sandals, AFM Symphonic Services, Canada, Associate Director On September 21, 2023, management of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony (KWS) declared bankruptcy just as the 52 musicians of KWS, members of Local 226 (Kitchener, ON), were expecting […]
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