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 30, 2024
The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) has announced its enthusiastic endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for president in the 2024 election and thanked President Joe Biden for his dedication to public service and support for working people. This presidential endorsement is based on the Biden-Harris administration’s unwavering commitment […]
Read MoreJuly 30, 2024
The faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) successfully petitioned the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to hold an election to recognize AFM Local 4 (Cleveland, OH) as their representative for the purposes of collective bargaining. An organizing committee was created this past spring to determine if there was enough support among the teachers […]
Read MoreJuly 1, 2024
by Gabe Kristal, AFM Director of Organizing It is no secret that organized labor has been in decline for several decades from its high point in 1954, when more than one in three US workers belonged to a union. However, there is new momentum for our labor movement. Buoyed by the Biden Administration and the […]
Read MoreJuly 1, 2024
by Gabriel Feldman-Schwartz, AFM Field Organizer There are two competing ways to view the workplace. There’s the boss’s way: a place where workers shouldn’t communicate with each other and should do whatever is assigned to them with no hesitation. This workplace vision is full of deference to management, isolation, and competition among coworkers. Separately, there […]
Read MoreJuly 1, 2024
by Rahul Neuman, AFM Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) Organizer My start date as the organizer at AFM Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) coincided almost exactly with the start of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike last year. On that first day of the WGA strike, I went out with a small group of […]
Read MoreJuly 1, 2024
by Claire Park, AFM Field Organizer An organizing conversation could begin something like this: “Hey Joe, I overheard what you said at last week’s gig about your concerns with workplace safety. I feel the same way. I’ve been talking with some of the other musicians about how unionizing could help us. Do you have time […]
Read MoreJuly 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 […]
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