Building Power Together: AFM Joins Coalitions for Impact

April 1, 2025

Ben Kessler  -  Ben Kessler, AFM Director of Government Affairs

The top of the AFM website reads: “Don’t go it alone.” Amid uncertainty and upheaval at the highest levels of government, AFM President Tino Gagliardi reminds us that our solidarity is needed more than ever. As a union, we intrinsically understand what that means at the bargaining table. Those same values translate to the AFM’s government affairs efforts as we work in Washington, DC, to advocate on behalf of our members.

How does that work in practice? As you are likely aware, the AFM is a proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO. Ours is one of 63 national and international labor unions representing more than 15 million people around the world. With a stated goal of “everyone who works for a living has family-supporting wages and benefits and the ability to retire with dignity,” the affiliation makes perfect sense.

From President Gagliardi on down, many AFM staff have working relationships at the AFL-CIO. Government affairs is no different. When Congress is in session, we start our week with the AFL-CIO’s legislative affairs leadership. We receive invaluable updates on what is happening on Capitol Hill. We are privy to strategy and given the opportunity to engage with fellow unions on policy issues that matter most to musicians.

Within the AFL-CIO is the Department for Professional Employees (DPE). AFM is one of 24 DPE unions, representing more than 200 occupations ranging from the NFL Players Association to the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists. AFM Secretary-Treasurer Ken Shirk serves as one of DPE’s general vice presidents. Within DPE is the Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries (AEMI) coalition. This subset is made up of 12 unions, including the AFM, that represent artists and arts workers. Together, we work on a range of issues, including growing federal support for the nonprofit arts sector, protecting the rights of copyright owners, and championing trade policies that put human creativity first.

Depending on our industry, AEMI unions work together on many federal policy matters. We meet regularly to advance the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA), a commonsense update to the tax code. However, few advocacy efforts succeed with only one perspective at the table. That’s why diverse arts sector stakeholders work together to further our shared priorities. The press release from Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Judy Chu (D-CA) that reintroduced PATPA to the House, mentions many of the AEMI unions, and includes quotes from leadership of Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Motion Picture Association, League of American Orchestras, and others.

Some other examples of the advocacy coalitions we work with are:

musicFIRST Coalition—Founded in 2007, its current primary objective is to finally get musicians paid when their work is played on terrestrial radio. The US is the only country in the free world that doesn’t compensate artists for plays on AM/FM radio. The American Music Fairness Act would fix that problem. The coalition includes SoundExchange, American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), Recording Academy, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), and others. We work together to grow bipartisan support to fix a broken system.

Human Artistry Campaign—Members include ASCAP, National Music Publishers Association, Songwriters of North America, and Writers’ Union of Canada. The coalition’s work lays the foundation for artificial intelligence (AI) safeguards. The group recognizes that human authorship and creativity is essential to copyright protection. As the AFM works toward consent, credit, and compensation for musicians whose work is used in generative AI, coordination with these organizations is essential.

Cultural Advocacy Group (CAG) —CAG has little internet presence. What it lacks in digital footprint, it makes up for in expertise. The group is led by experts with decades of experience. Topics include artist visas, nonprofit tax policy, federal arts funding, and more. I was introduced to CAG while working at the National Endowment for the Arts, and I joined the group on a regular basis to provide briefings and take questions. Now with the AFM, I work with CAG to navigate the uncertainty US cultural agencies are facing.

I could provide many other examples that demonstrate how the AFM works to effect policy in the US at the federal, state, and local levels. While the work of each coalition varies, there is one commonality that holds them together. We must build strong partnerships with diverse stakeholders to achieve the policy goals most important to musicians. This work is based on trust and mutual respect for all artists and arts workers.

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