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.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE AFM

International Musician

Del McCoury

Del McCoury of Local 257 (Nashville, TN) lives in Hendersonville, Tennessee, just north of Nashville. He answered the phone with a voice as sunny as the weather outside his southern home, and as soon as he could, the humble singer changed the subject from his 50-plus years in the music business to what was really […]


JoAnn Falletta

JoAnn Falletta keeps a diary of poems, all about inspirational moments in her professional life. Most have to do with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra (VSO) and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO), where Falletta has been music director since 1991 and 1999, respectively. “The poems are all about the musicians in the orchestra and their special qualities, […]


Michael Martin Murphey

Most would call a four-decade music career impressive in and of itself, but for Michael Martin Murphey of Local 433 (Austin, TX), there is much more to come. Murphey began his professional career in the music industry in 1960s. Surprisingly, he says he got a late start compared to other artists of his era. “I […]


Randy Brecker

Brass Master Randy Brecker balances family life and his love for creating music When your career spans several decades, like that of Randy Brecker of Local 802 (New York City), diversity helps keep things fresh. Some cities and communities are rife with diverse musical talent and ambition, and in those locations, influence is almost inevitable. […]


Billy Ray Cyrus

A Vietnam veteran, unaware of how impactive his words would be, once said to Billy Ray Cyrus: “All gave some, but some gave all.” This statement greatly affected the aspiring songwriter. In 1989, using the vet’s memorable phrase as a mantra, Cyrus wrote “Some Gave All,” the title track from his debut record. Released in […]


Kate Reid

Jazz pianist and vocalist Kate Reid of Local 47 (Los Angeles) remembers jazz music as an integral part of her daily routine as a teenager in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. “Every morning before high school, my brother would listen to Count Basie and Duke Ellington,” she recalls. “Four years straight, I heard them every morning.” Reid’s […]


Mastodon

Concept albums and sprawling, complex song structures have been somewhat of a trademark for progressive metal act Mastodon. Which is why, with the release of its stripped-down, fifth studio album, The Hunter, there has been a lot of buzz about the band’s alleged attempt to make music that’s more commercially viable. “That’s something that’s definitely […]


Pat Metheny

Pat Metheny of Local 34-627 (Kansas City, MO) is one of the most versatile guitarists and composers ever. He’s had Grammy nominations in numerous categories, and although he’s most well known as a jazz guitarist, much of his music resists categorization, and that’s exactly how he wants it to be. Metheny was raised in the […]


Mickey Hart

Though most well-known for his almost 30 years as a drummer for the Grateful Dead, Mickey Hart of Local 6 (San Francisco, CA) has built a name for himself as an explorer of music and music cultures worldwide. But, his latest project has taken him even further, on a quest to discover the rhythm of […]


Ray Chew

From Musician to Producer Like many musicians, Ray Chew of Local 802 (New York City) attributes his love for music to the exposure he had as a child, and the inspiration he received from his parents. “My father played piano and used to sit me on his knee when I was three or four,” he […]








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