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Marc Shaiman

June 1, 2026

With a slightly self-deprecating laugh, Marc Shaiman says his friends call him Eeyore, after the chronically pessimistic donkey from the Winnie the Pooh stories. He seems to wear the nickname like it’s his brand. But talking with Shaiman, it’s hard to square that with the irrepressible enthusiasm that comes through—despite the obvious exhaustion that comes […]

The Balanced Musician: Tuning Your Mind for a Lifelong Career

June 1, 2026

Music generates plenty of feel-good vibes, but for musicians struggling with mental health issues the performance is only for show. Behind the scenes, challenges could be mounting. Though you play in a band or an ensemble, dealing with the psychological stress that goes with the “business”—booking steady gigs, building a network, and marketing strategies —the […]

Strong Funding Continues in 2026-2027 MPTF Budget

June 1, 2026

As we close out another fiscal year, the financial position of the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) remains strong and stable. Signatory revenue held steady as growth across the music industry matures. US recorded music revenue hit a record of $11.5 billion, a meaningful testament to the ongoing value of music and a direct reflection […]

Long-Awaited NLRB Decision Backs Local 72-147 Musicians in Pandemic-Era Labor Dispute

June 1, 2026

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a final decision on April 30 finding that three Dallas-Fort Worth symphony orchestras committed multiple unfair labor practices when they unilaterally modified their labor agreement with musicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, and ultimately withdrew union recognition altogether. The decision caps a nearly six-year fight by Local 72-147 (Dallas-Fort […]

True Concord Musicians Vote to Unionize, Employer Challenges Jurisdiction

June 1, 2026

On May 15, the musicians of True Concord Voices and Orchestra voted 31 to 6 to be represented by the Tucson Federation of Musicians, Local 33 (Tucson, AZ). The road to that vote was not short; the musicians first filed a petition with Region 28 of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) seeking union representation […]

Philly Musicians Protest Nonunion Chicago Production

May 31, 2026

A long-standing agreement was shattered when the Shubert-owned Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia violated a union contract with Local 77-274 (Philadelphia, PA) and decided to run a nonunion production of the musical, Chicago, which opened May 12. The Shubert Organization abruptly fired five union musicians who were hired for the musical’s Philadelphia’s run, an action in […]

Building for the Future: AFM Organizing Services Comes of Age

May 1, 2026

by Gabe Kristal, AFM Director of Organizing Services My tenure as director of the AFM Organizing Services Department is nearing two and a half years, although it feels as if I just started yesterday. It is a daunting challenge to create a department from whole cloth. We have worked to build Organizing Services with equal […]

Nashville Musicians Shine a Light on Fair Trade Music

May 1, 2026

For musicians who play the Lower Broadway club circuit in downtown Nashville, conversations about what it takes to make a living almost always come down to the same issues: low base pay, erratic tip jar policies, difficult load-in conditions, problems with third party booking agents, and venues that treat performers as an afterthought. Local 257 […]

True Concord Voices and Orchestra Musicians Secure Path to Union Election

May 1, 2026

Sometimes nonunion groups make the collective push for union protection because of a single large-scale event by an intractable management, perhaps pushing musicians into a corner. More often, the decision to unionize is the result of a series of restrictive or unacceptable work conditions that underscore a need to organize for the safeguarding and overall […]

When Dystonia Strikes: Symptoms and Strategies

May 1, 2026

Musicians are especially prone to focal dystonia, a debilitating condition that is caused by the loss of muscle control in highly practiced movements. For pianists and guitar players it’s usually the ring finger of the right hand that’s stricken. Experts now speculate that Glenn Gould, famous for his irregular posture at the piano, likely had […]