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.
December 1, 2024
A Look at 2024 Achievements & Challenges During 2024 we saw both remarkable achievements and pressing challenges for our union. We celebrated the resilience and creativity of AFM members when they work together in both groundbreaking performances and impactful advocacy. One quickly developing and significant threat we face is the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence […]
November 29, 2024
The new documentary Music by John Williams is a love letter to the man who wrote the soundtrack to modern pop culture: Jaws, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., Schindler’s List, Home Alone, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. There may be no cinematic artist more deserving of a lionizing documentary than Williams of Locals 47 (Los Angeles, […]
November 29, 2024
In mid-November, Broadway musicians of Local 802 (New York City) ratified a new contract with the Broadway League that will run through August 2025. A living wage and fair benefits were among the issues in negotiations. But, an overarching theme was the continued support of live music at Broadway shows. Local 802 worked to publicize […]
November 29, 2024
Greenwood Leflore Consolidated School District became a hub of musical inspiration and learning as Mississippi Symphony Orchestra (MSO) musicians, members of Local 579 (Jackson, MS), brought live music education to students, teachers, and local partners on October 17. Supported by Save The Music Foundation (STM) and the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF), the event marked […]
November 1, 2024
En Francais – Prendre ses affaires en main – enregistrement 101 : ce qu’il faut savoir One thing that has changed exponentially over the last few years is the ability to come up with a great recording, without spending days in a studio. Great quality home recording projects are happening everywhere. With the advancement of software […]
November 1, 2024
by Gabe Kristal, AFM Director of Organizing Though many members will receive their copy of International Musician after the election results are in, we wanted to highlight the importance of voting and our efforts, right up to the last minute, to help ensure we get out the vote. The AFM understands the 2024 presidential election […]
October 30, 2024
The faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) overwhelmingly voted to approve Cleveland Federation of Musicians, Local 4 (Cleveland, OH), as their exclusive bargaining representative. The election was conducted September 25-26, under the rules and regulations of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). “CIM, following Cleveland Ballet and Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, represents the third […]
October 30, 2024
NBCUniversal (NBCU) and American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) are jointly requesting information, pursuant to a settlement agreement in the above-referenced civil action, pertaining to incomplete tracks used in one of the following programs from March 1, 2020 through October 1, 2024 (“Claim Period”): The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, […]
October 30, 2024
Tom Morello of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) was awarded the 2024 Woody Guthrie Prize for his longstanding commitment to social justice and human rights. For nine years, the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has awarded the prize to artists who exemplify Guthrie’s spirit and work by speaking for the less fortunate through music, […]
October 1, 2024
In 1998, I was a newly elected secretary-treasurer of AFM Local 105 (Spokane, WA). Our president was Jimmy Bee Nixon, a rock ‘n’ roll bassist originally from Bakersfield, California. I remember complaining to him about the unfairness musicians face in our work. I also clearly remember the sparkle of mischief and challenge in his light […]