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.
January 1, 2026
From Vision to Action: A Look at the Growing Movement for Freelance Musicians As we kick off another year with the annual Freelance Services Department spotlight issue of the International Musician, it may seem a little hackneyed to once again be trumpeting (pun always intended) another new era for the Freelance Services Department and independent […]
Read MoreJanuary 1, 2026
by Wages Argott, AFM Director of Freelance Services and Membership Development By now I’m sure many of you may have either seen some correspondence or heard mention of the Freelance Musicians Association (FMA). So what exactly is this latest acronym and why should you care? The simplest answer is this: the FMA is a binational […]
Read MoreJanuary 1, 2026
by Wages Argott, AFM Director of Freelance Services and Membership Development Local leaders ask me all the time for ideas about how to employ Freelance Co-funding for their membership. Freelance Co-funding program is defined in AFM Bylaws as “[a]n operating budget of $100,000 annually … allocated to a program whose sole purpose is to assist […]
Read MoreJanuary 1, 2025
Defining the role of the Freelance Services Division is almost as difficult as defining a freelance musician—there are different facets, functions, and skills leading to a single label or classification. Much like freelancers, our goal has always been to keep the department as nimble, diverse, and as adaptive as possible. Addressing the needs of independent […]
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