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.
January 5, 2026
In spirit of reckoning and repair, the members of Local 77 (Philadelphia, PA) successfully petitioned the AFM International Executive Board (IEB) to officially change the local’s number to 77-274, in recognition of the former Philadelphia Black Musicians’ Protective Union, Local 274. The change honors the perseverance and contributions of the musicians who built and sustained Local […]
January 1, 2026
From Vision to Action: A Look at the Growing Movement for Freelance Musicians As we kick off another year with the annual Freelance Services Department spotlight issue of the International Musician, it may seem a little hackneyed to once again be trumpeting (pun always intended) another new era for the Freelance Services Department and independent […]
January 1, 2026
Happy New Year! We wish you and your loved ones health and prosperity throughout 2026. For those I have not yet met, I am Greg Linn, the new trustee for the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF), and this is my first column for the International Musician. As we begin this new year, the MPTF is […]
December 31, 2025
On December 9, Senators on the Intellectual Property Subcommittee demonstrated clear support for the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA). Opponents offered no effective response to the call for fair compensation when music is played on AM/FM radio. This hearing marks an important step toward legislative action, with the coalition now pushing for the full Senate […]
December 31, 2025
The Grateful Dead will forever be associated with San Francisco and Haight-Ashbury, but the first official Grateful Dead show was actually performed some 65 miles south in San Jose on December 4, 1965. Last month, the city of San Jose officials unveiled a plaque at City Hall to commemorate the historic moment. Long before the Grateful Dead became synonymous […]
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 […]