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 31, 2026
Stakes were high for professional string instrumentalists during this fall’s Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) treaty meeting. Under consideration was a proposal from Brazil to relist Pernambuco to Appendix I, the highest level of protection. Fortunately, Pernambuco was kept on Appendix II for another three years, but […]
January 31, 2026
After 18 months of administrative stalling, the musicians of True Concord Orchestra (TCO) and members of Local 33 (Tucson, AZ) took their fight for professional dignity to the streets of Tucson in January. Despite unionizing under Local 33 in early 2024, the musicians are still waiting for management to recognize their status and begin the […]
January 23, 2026
The first collective bargaining agreement between Local 4 (Cleveland, OH) and the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM), representing approximately 120 music teachers, has been approved by the music faculty and ratified by the union and CIM. The new contract covers all three departments at the music school: the Conservatory, the Academy for pre-kindergarten to high […]
January 11, 2026
Instrument manufacturer Conn-Selmer announced plans in January to shutter its historic manufacturing plant in Eastlake, Ohio. The decision, set to take effect in June, will displace approximately 150 skilled union workers and marks a devastating shift of production for tubas, sousaphones, and student French horns to China. Conn-Selmer claims the consolidation is necessary to “improve […]
January 9, 2026
In a significant shift for the D.C. arts landscape, the Washington National Opera (WNO) has voted to end its affiliation with the Kennedy Center. Transitioning back to a fully independent nonprofit, the company is departing the venue it has called home since 1971. The decision follows prolonged organizational friction and a new business model at […]
January 5, 2026
In spirit of reckoning and repair, the members of Local 77 (Philadelphia, PA) successfully petitioned the AFM International Executive Board (IEB) to officially change the local’s number to 77-274, in recognition of the former Philadelphia Black Musicians’ Protective Union, Local 274. The change honors the perseverance and contributions of the musicians who built and sustained Local […]
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 […]
January 1, 2026
Happy New Year! We wish you and your loved ones health and prosperity throughout 2026. For those I have not yet met, I am Greg Linn, the new trustee for the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF), and this is my first column for the International Musician. As we begin this new year, the MPTF is […]
December 31, 2025
On December 9, Senators on the Intellectual Property Subcommittee demonstrated clear support for the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA). Opponents offered no effective response to the call for fair compensation when music is played on AM/FM radio. This hearing marks an important step toward legislative action, with the coalition now pushing for the full Senate […]
December 31, 2025
The Grateful Dead will forever be associated with San Francisco and Haight-Ashbury, but the first official Grateful Dead show was actually performed some 65 miles south in San Jose on December 4, 1965. Last month, the city of San Jose officials unveiled a plaque at City Hall to commemorate the historic moment. Long before the Grateful Dead became synonymous […]