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, 2020
CBC Music has announced its annual “30 under 30” list, celebrating the accomplishments of Canada’s emerging classical musicians. “They’re winning competitions and awards, graduating from top music schools, [and] making exciting debuts,” according to CBC Music. A number of musicians on the list are members of the AFM, including: Elizabeth Skinner, 29, violinist and member of […]
August 31, 2020
Alan Menken, a member of Local 802 (New York City) for the past 44 years, recently joined the illustrious EGOT club, following his daytime Emmy win on July 26. His Emmy win for outstanding original song in a children’s, young adult, or animated program (for Disney Channel’s Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure) makes him only the 16th […]
August 31, 2020
Musicians on the NBC reality show The Voice have been underpaid, and sometimes not paid at all, for their work—which has led the union to file a lawsuit against production company 212 Productions LLC for breach of its collective bargaining agreement. The suit, which seeks damages for all unpaid wages, fees, premiums, and residuals, plus […]
August 31, 2020
AFM applauded the introduction of legislation in late July that would fix issues that musicians and other entertainment workers have had with unemployment benefits. The Mixed Earner Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act, introduced by U.S. Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Judy Chu (D-CA), would help ensure that workers who earn a mix of traditional (W-2) and […]
August 28, 2020
On Friday, August 7, the AFM International Executive Board (IEB) met by Zoom meeting to discuss the possibility of endorsing a candidate in the upcoming US presidential election. All IEB members were present for the meeting. The IEB is very much aware that we have a diverse membership that has views that cover a wide […]
July 28, 2020
The Musicians Foundation recently received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to be used to organize a national conference of organizations that assist professional performing artists in times of need and crisis. The conference, which gains urgency and a new significance in the COVID-19 pandemic, is currently slated to take place […]
July 27, 2020
This edition of Three American Pieces by Lukas Foss offers revisions by acclaimed clarinetist Seunghee Lee. As a student, Lee fell in love with clarinet icon Richard Stoltzman’s original arrangement and would later work directly with Lukas Foss to improve the piece’s playability for performance on the clarinet. Arranged by Richard Stoltzman, edited by Seunghee […]
July 27, 2020
This book consists of beautiful art songs (lieder) by famous classical composers, music set to poetry for piano and voice, but here presented in piano solo arrangements by Lee Evans of Local 802 (New York City) to be played purely instrumentally. Available in print and on iPad-specific SuperScore Music app. by Lee Evans, Piano Plus, […]
June 30, 2020
Acupuncture can be a very effective treatment for many conditions both acute (recent) or chronic (recurring). Some examples for musicians would include tendonitis, carpal tunnel and ulnar tunnel syndromes, neck and back pain, and other repetitive motion/overuse type injuries acquired while learning their craft. Acupuncture often works in cases where other treatment methods have failed, […]
June 29, 2020
Local 443 (Oneonta, NY) has announced that the 2020 Charles W. England Memorial Fund scholarships of $500 each will go to three Class of 2020 high school graduates from Chenango and Delaware, NY counties who will further their studies in the musical arts. The 2020 Awardees are: Jake Buchman, Norwich High School, who will attend […]