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 26, 2019
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) has reported an operating surplus in fiscal year 2019, for its third consecutive year. Total operating revenue was $29.5 million compared to operating expenses of $29.4 million, generating a surplus just over $100,000. Annual fund gifts exceeded $8 million for the first time in the orchestra’s 139-year history, and […]
Read MoreDecember 26, 2019
In November, musicians and management of the Regina Symphony Orchestra (RSO) ratified a new CBA that is retroactive to July 1, 2019 and runs through June 30, Over the course of the contract, base per-service pay increases 4.5% in the current season, 5.2% in the 2020/21 season, and 4.9% in 2021/22. In addition, certain rules […]
Read MoreDecember 26, 2019
On September 23, the Baltimore Symphony Musicians, members of Local 40-543 (Baltimore, MD), returned to the concert hall after a 14-week lockout. We made a very difficult decision to accept the terms of a one-year agreement that maintains our annual salary while working only 40 weeks out of the remaining 50 weeks during the 2019-20 […]
Read MoreDecember 26, 2019
Rum Ragged Hailing from rural towns on the island of Newfoundland, one of the world’s richest hubs of folk and traditional music nestled at the easternmost point of North America, the band Rum Ragged has a passion for collecting and arranging the undiscovered traditional songs and tunes of their home. In their fourth album, the […]
Read MoreDecember 26, 2019
Jagged Little Pill (original Broadway cast recording) is the official companion to the new musical based on Alanis Morissette’s groundbreaking 1995 debut album of the same name. The Broadway cast recording features all-new renditions of the original songs, including such hits as “You Oughta Know,” “Hand In My Pocket,” and “Ironic.” It also includes other […]
Read MoreDecember 26, 2019
Harry Connick, Jr. Harry Connick, Jr.’s new album is comprised exclusively of Cole Porter compositions. True Love highlights Connick’s talents as pianist, singer, arranger, orchestrator, and conductor as he breathes new life into popular songs from the Great American Songbook including “Anything Goes” and “You Do Something To Me.”“This is the first time I’ve taken […]
Read MoreDecember 26, 2019
Not until adulthood would I realize that the ever-changing female body could profoundly affect brass playing.
Read MoreDecember 26, 2019
Reflections on a Lifetime of Music On Sunday, October 8, The Queen City Jass Society (QCJS) in Buffalo, NY, honored clarinetist, saxophonist, and member of Local 92 (Buffalo, NY) Paul Preston for his unparalleled achievements, unwavering dedication, and innumerable contributions to the Traditional Jazz scene in Western New York (WNY). As an interviewer, musician, band […]
Read MoreDecember 24, 2019
Julia Wolfe’s large-scale work for choir and orchestra Fire in my mouth was recorded live at the world premiere in January 2019 by the New York Philharmonic, The Crossing, and The Young People’s Chorus of New York City.
Read MoreDecember 20, 2019
Each year, the fund distributes thousands of residual payments to musicians that can range in amounts from double digits to more than seven figures.
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