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 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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
Read MoreAugust 1, 2024
by Steve Wade, ROPA President and member of Local 400 (Hartford-New Haven, CT) As of this writing, preparation continues for the 40th anniversary conference of the Regional Orchestra Players’ Association (ROPA), July 29-August 1, hosted by Local 6 (San Francisco, CA). Our final schedule is still evolving, but I can tell you about many of […]
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by Keith Carrick, ICSOM Chair and Member of Local 104 (Salt Lake City, UT) This year, International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) orchestras have been confronting the pressing issue of sexual misconduct within our industry. The revelations of such behavior have prompted a necessary and urgent dialogue on these problems. ICSOM remains steadfast […]
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by Robert Fraser, OCSM President and member of Local 247 (Victoria, BC) en français : L’OMOSC se réunit en appui aux musiciens du KWS The 49th Annual Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians (OCSM) Conference will be held August 12-15, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Kitchener, Ontario. We chose Kitchener as our conference site as soon […]
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The rigor of playing an instrument, performing complex and demanding physical movements on a daily basis, means musicians are at high risk for tendonitis, bursitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Repetitive movement, especially for extended periods, can significantly strain muscles and joints. Back pain and pain of the upper extremities are common, whether it’s shoulder pain […]
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