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 31, 2025
Teaching artists (TAs) at Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) filed for union representation under AFM Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA), marking a major organizing push across program sites at Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA), Inglewood, and Torres. The HOLA site had a National Labor Relations Board election in early December and won union recognition overwhelmingly. […]
December 1, 2025
Department for Professional Employees (DPE) Assistant to the President and Legislative Director Michael Wasser has long been tracking artist visa issues. Before I started at the AFM, Wasser was ready to get to work. We worked together closely during my time at the National Endowment for the Arts. The essential argument in supporting improving artist […]
December 1, 2025
Contributed by the Orchestra Committees of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera Orchestra Since the leadership changes at The Kennedy Center that occurred in February, uncertainty has surrounded everyone who calls it home, including but not limited to members of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra/Washington […]
November 30, 2025
For the labor movement and for people of all stripes, 2025 has been fraught with historic challenges. Workers across both the US and Canada have demonstrated resilience and strength in the face of unprecedented attacks on labor. Despite challenges, the AFM and other unions celebrated remarkable wins in 2025. Among the AFM’s biggest 2025 priorities […]
November 30, 2025
The International Labor Communications Association (ILCA) announced its annual labor communications contest winners for 2024 entries. The largest competition exclusively for labor journalists and communicators, the awards recognize excellence among union publications, websites, video, and other media from across North America. This year’s ILCA competition brought in approximately 750 entries from across the United States […]
November 1, 2025
Musicians on Broadway and at the Kennedy Center are making their voices heard in Congress. Their workplace experiences and advocacy asks may be different, but the AFM’s approach on Capitol Hill has been the same. Our engagement is typically based on geographic footprint and committees of jurisdiction. The same could be said for any successful […]
October 31, 2025
In a dramatic climax to months of escalating negotiations, AFM Local 802 (New York City) Broadway musicians successfully reached an early morning tentative agreement with The Broadway League, averting a strike scheduled for the following day. The new three-year contract includes meaningful increases to wages and health benefits, preserving crucial access to health care for […]
October 31, 2025
New airport security machines being deployed at airports across the US and Canada now require that all items be placed in X-ray screening bins for scanning. The new machines provide a clearer, three-dimensional image of what’s in travelers’ luggage. This new technology is designed to improve safety and speed up security lines overall. However, many […]
September 30, 2025
Condemning ‘State Censorship’ After Jimmy Kimmel Live! Suspension Last month, Jimmy Kimmel Live! resumed broadcast after a controversial suspension by ABC. The network pulled the show when remarks Kimmel made about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk were deemed inappropriate. The suspension sparked widespread backlash—from entertainment unions and political leaders to constitutional scholars and […]
September 30, 2025
Musicians of Local 7 (Orange County/Long Beach, CA) joined nearly two dozen trade unions gathered at Knott’s Berry Farm to announce a historic coalition with the aim of representing workers at the theme park in Buena Park, California. Once a family owned business, it’s now part of the Six Flags corporate family. The park serves 10,000 […]