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.

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Executive Board Members, Officer Columns

Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)

I was going to title my column “Everything’s Going to Hell in a Handbasket,” then I came across The Temptations’ song “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today),” recorded in 1970 against the backdrop of racism, social injustice, and civil unrest in America. It’s an apt title for today. To say that we live […]


Forging Power in the Freelance Music Community

After years of performing in nightclubs, bars, restaurants, and recording sessions that paid more in promises than in actual checks, I’ve come to see the freelance music world differently. What once looked like a smattering of gigs and side hustles now feels like something bigger, an incredible labor force that holds up an entire industry. […]


Canada’s Uniqueness within the Federation: Unity in Diversity

Canada plays a vital role in enhancing the diversity of the AFM. While Canadians and Americans share a supportive and harmonious relationship within the Federation, recognizing the distinct characteristics of each country helps foster greater mutual understanding. First, a few figures: Canadians represent 21% of AFM’s membership. There are 24 Canadian locals, with the largest […]


Performing Artists Must Be Protected from Censorship 

The recent efforts to censor the voices of creative artists presents a troubling development for performing artists of all disciplines. AFM International President Tino Gagliardi’s response to ABC taking Jimmy Kimmel off the air was articulated perfectly: “This is not complicated: Trump’s FCC identified speech it did not like and threatened ABC with extreme reprisals. […]


A Recipe to Organize 

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 […]


Don’t Leave Money on the Table: Protect Yourself and Your Intellectual Property Rights

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. […]


Protect Your Work and Your Rights Through AFM Agreements

As each one of our Canadian national electronic media contracts have come up for renewal, we have made it a priority to incorporate generative artificial intelligence (GAI) language in the form of side letters to protect our musicians’ work. We take the position that music content produced for film, television, or digital media is covered […]


Hip-Hop’s Billion-Dollar Beat Deserves Union Protection

Hip-hop has long been a global economic force. Hip-hop and R&B accounted for over 25% of all US streams in 2024. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), in 2022, hip-hop generated $15.9 billion from music streams and purchases alone. Yet, behind the impressive streaming numbers and sold-out tours lies a harsh reality: […]


Artificial Intelligence and Us

The technological challenges musicians face are not new. We can go back to Edison’s invention of the phonograph, which at the time, fundamentally altered the relationship between listeners and music. Audiences could now listen to recorded music on a physical medium, at any time, without having to go to a venue where musicians were playing. […]


Art vs Politics at Kennedy Center; Workers and Audience Caught in the Middle

The Kennedy Center’s February 12 change in leadership has become the subject of much discussion among members of the arts community and beyond. Following soon after this announcement was the news that a number of high-profile artists had made the decision to withdraw from their commitments to the center. Currently, artists, arts creators, and others […]








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