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.
July 1, 2024
They may perform under a big top, but it’s no circus. The musicians of the Blue Canvas Orchestra, the house band for Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua, are musical storytellers whose performances just happen to take place in a huge tent. With a season that runs from mid-June through mid-September, the shows are as unique […]
Read MoreJuly 1, 2024
This summer, whether it’s mowing your lawn, taking a hike, or at an outdoor festival, there’s a good chance you might encounter a tick or two. Tick populations cycle through the year and their numbers depend on a few factors. The first peak of tick season starts in spring and continues through summer, with most […]
Read MoreJuly 1, 2024
In September 2021 remarks honoring labor unions, President Joe Biden declared, “I intend to be the most pro-union president, leading the most pro-union administration in American history.” Since then, the Biden administration has been using its legislative, regulatory, and administrative powers to support unions and working people. No previous administration has taken such a comprehensive […]
Read MoreJuly 1, 2024
The Tamburo Mia is a nesting drum set that blends portability with versatility and sound quality. Designed for drummers on the move, each of the kit’s drum shells fit seamlessly and simultaneously within the bass drum, transforming it into an easily transportable package. The shells are constructed from high-quality materials, producing rich, full-bodied tones with […]
Read MoreJune 26, 2024
The Music and Musicians Tax Credit and Jobs Act was signed into law on June 5 in the Illinois General Assembly. The legislation is cosponsored by Local 10-208 (Chicago, IL) and will provide $2 million in tax credits to qualifying music companies in the state that record soundtracks and employ local musicians. The bill was advanced by […]
Read MoreJune 1, 2024
President Biden’s administration has empowered the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to advance its mission of protecting the right of workers to organize, making significant progress to restore and fortify this powerful agency that had been hollowed out by the previous administration. Under Biden’s appointees to the NLRB, the agency is wielding its authority to […]
Read MoreJune 1, 2024
On May 7, a webinar was held by the League of American Orchestras in partnership with the AFM and several other organizations to detail the latest rules of travel with musical instruments containing protected species. The webinar, a transcript, and slide presentation are now available for free, on-demand at the website: www.americanorchestras.org/travel-rules-for-protected-species-and-musical-instruments/. The webinar explains […]
Read MoreJune 1, 2024
Romero’s journey toward self-acceptance started with striving for an understanding of who she was, and her place growing up as young boy in the East Texas town of Longview. “I didn’t really know enough back then to question my identity,” she says. “I realized that I didn’t like my assigned gender at birth. I wanted to be a girl from the age of 5. But I didn’t have the basis to even begin to understand what being trans meant.” Nevertheless, she says, people around her knew something was up. “I wasn’t quite ‘normal’ enough for their taste, so I got bullied a lot, ostracized, and experienced social isolation.”
Read MoreJune 1, 2024
CFM Representing at JUNO and ECMA Awards by Liana White, AFM Canadian Office Executive Director The Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM) was present at two of Canada’s biggest music awards shows, the JUNO Awards and the East Coast Music Awards (ECMA). This year’s JUNO Awards were held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for the first time […]
Read MoreJune 1, 2024
Sitting for prolonged periods of time, as many musicians do, can be linked to a number of health concerns, chief among them, back issues. Around 80%-90% of people in the US will have back pain at some point in their lives.
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