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.
October 1, 2025
First, I must say, I am proud to see so many musicians standing up during this time of political turmoil. During the past few months, we have witnessed unprecedented attacks against due process and freedom of speech on our streets, in our classrooms, and in our workspaces, most recently with the suspension of the Jimmy […]
October 1, 2025
Despite the best of intentions, life for most of us amounts to a series of reactions, well-considered or otherwise. The organisms of nature, of which we humans are a subset, seek to exist in a place of comfort. If undisturbed, there we organisms remain, content. Only when that familiar contentment is disturbed do we react. […]
October 1, 2025
The world we live and work in is constantly changing. Corporations make advancements, governments make legislation, and we must speak up to defend and protect our income streams. In advance of the fall budget, the Canadian Office submitted the following recommendations. 1)Implement a new Live Performing Arts Tax Credit (LPTC) to ignite a renaissance in […]
October 1, 2025
Ingredients: 1 part union musicians; 1 part other local unions; 1 part local organizations; 1 part local elected representatives Start by gathering a group of musicians and identifying core issues. Sprinkle in a survey, followed by member-to-member conversations. Share information, take it to a musician’s union meeting, develop consensus, and let rise. Next, fold in […]
September 1, 2025
As I write this column, I am headed to Cleveland, Ohio, to attend the Theater Musicians Association (TMA) and the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) conferences. These are the last two events of a busy conference season. I feel inspired by meeting so many officers, delegates, and union members in person this […]
September 1, 2025
The Muse Collective has taken another unauthorized vacation. When, in 1983 at age 27, I assumed my first union post of Secretary-Treasurer of Local 76 (now 76-493) in Seattle, I walked into an office steeped in tradition, history, and habits. The office secretary had been there ten years and knew everything inside and out about […]
September 1, 2025
In early August, Canadian Conference local delegates joined together with Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians (OCSM) delegates in Toronto, Ontario, for a joint conference. The opportunity for local officers to share reports and hear from staff is key to representing rank-and-file voices. There was great representation of locals with delegates from across the country who […]
September 1, 2025
Now more than ever, it is essential to document your recording work by putting it under an AFM contract. The music industry has undergone significant shifts over the past few decades, with its rules changing dramatically. The days of major record labels and high-level managers controlling every aspect of an artist’s career are long gone. […]
August 1, 2025
The International Federation of Musicians’ (FIM) 23rd Congress was held from June 25-27, at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland, hosted by the Swiss Musicians’ Union (SMV-USDAM). The conference brought together delegates from musician unions from around the world. I attended on behalf of the AFM along with Vice President from Canada Allistair […]
August 1, 2025
To Canadian members: I try to avoid US-centric writing in the International Musician, but sometimes events demand it, the presentation of which I hope might be useful perspective for any musician on this continent. A smart person recently observed that a union’s main job is to build sufficient power to enable members to attain fairness […]