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 […]
January 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 […]
January 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 […]
December 31, 2025
Teaching artists (TAs) at Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) filed for union representation under AFM Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA), marking a major organizing push across program sites at Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA), Inglewood, and Torres. The HOLA site had a National Labor Relations Board election in early December and won union recognition overwhelmingly. […]
November 1, 2025
AFM Director of Organizing Gabe Kristal visited Local 555 (San Juan, PR) in October to lead the inaugural “Play Your Part” training and education sessions for freelance musicians. The joint Freelance Services and Organizing Department program focuses on specific ways musicians can fight for their rights and highlights the benefits of joining the AFM. Based […]
September 1, 2025
As always, it is an honor to welcome you to this year’s issue of the International Musician focused on electronic media and the Electronic Media Services Division (EMSD). This division serves and protects the interests of nonsymphonic recording musicians. (The AFM Symphonic Services Division represents symphony, opera, ballet, and chamber orchestra electronic media projects.) While […]
September 1, 2025
by Rebecca Gurnee, AFM Electronic Media Services Division Assistant Director This winter, the AFM reached a tentative agreement with ABC, CBS, and NBC on a successor Television Videotape Agreement, the Federation agreement covering musicians’ work on live television programs such as variety, talk, news, and sports. After months of bargaining, strategic coalition-building, and a tremendous […]
September 1, 2025
by Mary Contini-Migliore, AFM Electronic Media Services Division, Sound Recording Supervisor Many artists wonder whether disc jockeys can be covered under AFM electronic media agreements. The question of their coverage eligibility has floated around for years, specifically as it relates to working under our Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA). So, can DJs be covered by […]
September 1, 2025
Let’s say you are called into a recording studio to record a track for a major artist. It seems the same as any other session you’ve ever done under the Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA), and you expect to be paid that way. Later, you find out that the song was actually recorded for use […]
September 1, 2025
Attendees of a two-day education session gathered before the Canadian Conference in Toronto, Ontario, to explore a new approach to organizing musicians within their communities. The workshop combined traditional labor organizing techniques with strategies specifically designed for freelance musicians. Participants learned how having a clear plan can help attract more active musicians to membership and […]