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.
December 31, 2020
World’s Smallest Guitar/Bass Multi-Tool GrooveTech Tools’ newest guitar and bass multi-tool, the Mini-Multi, consolidates 14 tools into a body that’s less than three inches long. Included are eight hex wrenches, four screwdrivers, and a precision ruler. And for those important moments, a bottle opener is provided. Sizes are in both meters and inches for use […]
Read MoreDecember 31, 2020
Capsule Sound in a Wired Microphone Sennheiser is bringing the sound of its MD 9235 capsule to a wired vocal microphone. The new cardioid MD 435 large-diaphragm microphone has a shock-mounted capsule to protect it from structure-borne noise, while a hum-compensating coil protects the microphone against electromagnetic interference. The lightweight aluminum-copper voice coil ensures fast […]
Read MoreDecember 31, 2020
Working-Man’s Guitar Fender’s new Brad Paisley Signature Esquire guitar was made in collaboration with the Grammy winning artist, a member of Local 257 (Nashville, TN). The guitar takes the elements that have made the Esquire a staple and provides subtle upgrades, including a Seymour Duncan Brad Paisley Signature “Secret Agent” neck pickup hidden under a […]
Read MoreDecember 31, 2020
Flagship Synthesizer The Arturia PolyBrute is six pure analog voices driven by two Brute oscillators with digital Matrix precision, an innovative three-dimensional Morphée performance touchpad, and pristine stereo effects. Features include distortion, wavefolding, and FM control, shaped by dual enhanced filters for massive timbral variety. www.arturia.com
Read MoreDecember 31, 2020
In response to the lockout by the Metropolitan Opera against Local One stagehands, members of the Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds (COBUG) issued the following statement on December 9: As an affiliate of the Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds (COBUG), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local One stagehands do not stand […]
Read MoreDecember 1, 2020
Darren Michael Boyd Wonders of the Invisible World is a 1693 book recounting the Salem Witch Trials in which the author, Cotton Mather, espoused the belief that the prosecutions of the “witches” were to gain God’s blessings over the colony. Fast-forward over three centuries, and another collection of wonders is earning a “Guitar God” his […]
Read MoreDecember 1, 2020
In late September, Local 78 (Syracuse, NY) musicians and officers participated in a rally dubbed “Let the Music Play,” which protested New York state rules that say only “incidental” music can be played at bars, restaurants, clubs, or theaters. The New York State Liquor Authority rules prohibit venues that serve alcohol from advertising shows or […]
Read MoreDecember 1, 2020
On November 9, Fort Wayne Philharmonic management rejected an offer by musicians—members of Local 58 (Fort Wayne, IN)—to accept substantial cuts to compensation during the 2020-21 season and return to work performing COVID-safe live and streamed concerts. The musicians’ proposal would have allowed the Philharmonic to rescind its unlawful furlough of musicians and to restore […]
Read MoreDecember 1, 2020
In late September, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic’s (CSP) board of directors voted to cancel its contract with musicians due to lost revenues because of the corona virus. The cancellation comes after months of negotiations between the Philharmonic and its musicians about how best to share the sacrifices needed for the organization to endure the pandemic. […]
Read MoreDecember 1, 2020
The musicians of the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra (DSSO), members of Local 18 (Duluth, MN), ratified a two-year agreement that runs from September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2022. The agreement includes a pay freeze and clarifications to previously ambiguous contract language. A new section provides flexibility for outreach performances. In addition, a one-year COVID-19 side […]
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