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.
April 1, 2021
A recent report has detailed the economic impact of the US music industry state by state, and the results have been added to a new interactive website created by 10 music industry organizations. The music industry creates $170 billion in value annually to the US economy, supports 2.47 million jobs across a wide range of […]
April 1, 2021
On March 6, the House passed HR 842, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act), by a vote of 225 to 206. The legislation would make it easier for workers to join and form unions by empowering the National Labor Relations Board to levy fines and by extending collective bargaining rights to independent contractors—a major win […]
April 1, 2021
In February, more than 85 AFM members participated in the union’s first legislative advocacy phone bank, reaching out to fellow musicians in congressional districts key to the future of the Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act of 2021. The AFM Organizing and Education Department worked with AFM player conferences to engage members of the International Conference of Symphony […]
April 1, 2021
I can hear the ice beginning to break apart on our frozen pandemic year. As the Biden administration streamlines vaccine distribution and our economy slowly begins to thaw under the economic stimulus of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), we will start to see the re-opening of our orchestras and a loosening of audience restrictions. […]
April 1, 2021
en français It has been difficult writing for my colleagues during this pandemic, especially since so much can change during the month that will lapse between the time I am writing this and the time many of you will be reading it. But I am optimistic right now that we are heading to the coda […]
April 1, 2021
To prepare for writing this article in International Musician, I looked back at my report in last year’s April issue of IM, which annually features the AFM Symphonic Services Division (SSD) and the symphonic AFM player conferences. At the time I wrote that article, we were a little over a week into the national pandemic […]
March 1, 2021
New research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that union membership increased in the US in 2020. According to BLS data, union membership rose to 10.8% in 2020, up .5% from 2019. While the total number of wage and salary workers belonging to unions (14.3 million) was down by 321,000, or 2.2%, from 2019, […]
March 1, 2021
The 2021 Grammy Awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 14. The ceremony, hosted by Trevor Noah, had been scheduled for January 31 but was rescheduled for Sunday, March 14, due to the coronavirus pandemic. “The deteriorating COVID situation in Los Angeles, with hospital services being overwhelmed, ICUs having reached capacity, and new guidance […]
March 1, 2021
Tax time is almost upon us and the annual tax filing of April 30 is fast approaching. Canadian musicians have certain advantages in terms of dealing with the Canadian tax system, and this article will outline how you can reduce your tax liability. Knowing what expenses you can deduct from your income and keeping track […]
March 1, 2021
It is going to be quite a tax season this year. Many tax preparers (including me) since last March have gone virtual for their own safety as well as for the safety of their clients. With the technologywe have available to us now, documents can be securely uploaded to cloud portals, meetings can be done […]