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.
Allistair Elliott – AFM Vice President from Canada
May 1, 2022
For those who still believe conditions in the workplace are something you’re entitled to, you may be surprised that unfair labour practices (in Canada) were only defined and prohibited in 1938! While the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century gave birth to the labour movement in Europe and North America, there were many significant events […]
April 1, 2022
The pandemic has, among many other things, caused musicians to explore alternatives to live music, one being a pivot to digital. However, in doing so, members have often thrown caution to the wind and not bothered to cover their recordings with obligatory (and protective) agreements and report forms. Moreover, the desire to stay relevant with […]
March 1, 2022
On February 1, 2022, the Government of Canada made a commitment to supporting the recovery of the arts and culture sector, which has been among the hardest hit throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of renewed shutdowns and public health restrictions due to the emergence of the omicron variant have been particularly severe for the […]
February 1, 2022
As the omicron variant pushes daily infections to the tens of thousands (in Ontario and Quebec), the provincial governments’ response has been to return to a modified Stage 2, once again precipitating capacity limits, along with complete shutdowns. This new wave of closures is particularly difficult because live performance workers were just beginning to get […]
January 1, 2022
A recent three-day web meeting of the International Labour Organization (ILO) was especially interesting. It not only confirmed many of the assumptions we had about the impact of COVID internationally, but it revealed alarming similarities between countries that could not be more different socially or economically. Further, there was affirmation of the necessity for change […]
December 1, 2021
The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) ended October 23, 2021. CRB was a continuation of the Canada Emergency Recovery Benefit (CERB), first implemented April 2020, only weeks after the COVID-19 Pandemic was declared. A lifesaver for millions, the benefit saw an estimated 8.5 million Canadians accessing the $2000 per month within the first four months. Between September 2020 […]
November 1, 2021
It’s not a secret that streaming companies and record labels profit colossally, some would say blasphemously, from the consumption of music, while artists are left savouring mere pennies. It follows as no surprise that the aforementioned entities are loathe to divulge information on how the artists’ share is calculated. In the United Kingdom, an influential […]
November 1, 2021
Finally, as of November 8, the US-Canada land borders are officially reopened for all types of travelers. The US border (by air, land, and sea) was open throughout COVID for essential workers (US visa holders). The issue for visa holders wasn’t so much getting across the border, but it was closed venues, no one engaging […]
October 1, 2021
More and more, artists are tiring of the notion that platforms such as Spotify pay a ridiculous 3/100 of a cent per stream. And, because of the way payout is weighted, the majority of the money goes to only the most heavily streamed artists. This is part of the “value gap.” Online content sharing platforms […]
September 1, 2021
by Alan Willaert, AFM Vice President from Canada The Bad Despite the fact that we are all completely fed up with the pandemic, we continue to be hampered by the new realities COVID has served up. Venues are still limited, in terms of occupancy, and now access is often restricted to those who have received […]