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.
August 31, 2015
“I don’t usually do endorsements unless your product is just flat-out better than anything,” says Bush. But, here’s what he currently likes to use:
August 31, 2015
Comping is a term used to describe how a pianist (or other chordal instrumentalist) plays chords in a rhythm that propels and supports a soloist.
August 31, 2015
Du 7 au 9 août derniers, la ville de Windsor, en Ontario, accueillait la Conférence canadienne annuelle qui revêtait, cette année, un caractère spécial puisqu’il s’agissait d’une Conférence de l’unité, tenue conjointement avec l’Organisation des musiciens d’orchestre du Canada (OMOSC). Normalement, les deux événements ont des programmes assez distincts. Bien que les membres de chaque […]
August 27, 2015
by Liana White, AFM directrice générale, Canada Nous avons le regret de vous informer que le USCIS, et en particulier le Vermont Service Center, accuse de sérieux retards dans le traitement des demandes. Veuillez noter en outre que l’USCIS n’envoie pas d’avis aux requérants. Nous n’obtenons des nouvelles que si nos dossiers ne sont pas […]
July 1, 2015
Lorsque vous négociez les conditions d’un engagement à l’étranger, il y a certaines considérations contractuelles qui sont importantes. D’entrée de jeu, veillez à ce que vos échanges verbaux ou écrits soient bien clairs, les différences linguistiques ou culturelles pouvant compliquer les choses. Sachez aussi que, dans certaines cultures, il se peut qu’on ne vous réponde pas […]
July 1, 2015
Finally, Sirius XM’s two-year legal battle with the music industry has been resolved. Sirius must now pay for recordings created before 1972, and will do so to the tune of $210 million to five record companies, which is a tremendous step for the industry. Sirius will now have to pay for the songs of music’s […]
June 30, 2015
In an essay published by Billboard, Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) member Melissa Etheridge shared her thoughts on the Supreme Court ruling that made gay marriage legal in all 50 states. To read more about Etheridge’s career in the International Musician article.
May 28, 2015
Ignorer les exigences fiscales d’un pays étranger peut entraîner des complications imprévues, comme l’illustre bien la lettre qui suit : Nous avons envoyé un ensemble américain au Canada en 2013. Nous avions obtenu au préalable l’approbation d’une dispense de retenue R105, mais nous n’avions pas réalisé qu’il nous fallait produire une déclaration de revenus canadienne. Nous […]
May 1, 2015
The Local 4 Music Fund, a nonprofit organization run by Local 4 (Cleveland, OH), just concluded its fourth annual Academic Residency Calendar (ARC) partnership with local government and arts and philanthropic organizations to present music residencies in Cuyahoga and Lorain County, Ohio.
March 25, 2015
The oil worker strike has grown even larger as oil workers at three more refineries and a chemical plant joined the United Steelworkers (USW) strike…