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.

Find Out More Find Your Local
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE AFM

Executive Board Members, Officer Columns

International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month

March 1, 2023

The oppression and inequality of women became an important topic during the age of industrialization in the early 1900s. Women were becoming more active in voicing their opinion for the need for change. In 1908, they organized a march of 15,000 women in New York demanding shorter hours at work, better pay, and voting rights. […]

The Power of Music Versus the Power of Musicians

January 1, 2023

Have you heard conversations about “third-partying” the union? The concept separates the union from its members as another entity, a third party. It is a deliberate narrative that undermines our collective power. The power of the union is in our numbers, musicians banding together using consensus to work toward common goals. Hopefully, you understand that […]

Racism and Labor: Important Training to Eliminate Racism from Our Union

December 1, 2022

For some time, the Officer Education Committee, which I chair, has been working in conjunction with the Diversity Committee to put together a training program for AFM leadership, senior staff, local officers, and boards. This will eventually flow through AFM leadership to our members at large. The AFM, as well as most unions over our […]

Theaters Must Keep Live Musical Performances Live

November 1, 2022

I was attending my first International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians(ICSOM) Conference in 2011 when I learned about the Theatre Musicians Association (TMA). Tom Mendel, who was TMA president, gave a report on TMA at the conference. Afterwards, I took the opportunity to introduce myself and ask his advice about starting a chapter in […]

Workers’ Rights Amendment Is Good for All Workers

October 1, 2022

This November, the citizens of Illinois will be given the opportunity to make history. The Workers’ Rights Amendment will be the first issue on the ballot where voters will be asked to vote on giving protections to workers and unions. If passed, it will prohibit the passage of “right to work” laws and ban any […]

Respect Yourself by Protecting Your Intellectual Property

September 1, 2022

As technology and the music industry evolve, so must we. It can be hard to look ahead while you are trying to make the present happen, but it is essential to try. How a musician makes a living these days can be very different than in the past. Rather than having one main gig, many […]

Another Sour Note from the Supremes

August 1, 2022

The following is based on my own opinions and is not meant to represent the opinions of our union administration or the AFM International Executive Board (IEB). While I suspect some will frown upon my commenting on the recent decision by the Supreme Court, I am of the view that the union movement is a […]

Time to Inspire and Organize

July 1, 2022

What an amazing time this is, complete with dramatic challenges and remarkable possibilities. Plague, war, and social and economic upheaval coexist with a real desire to change the work-life balance and find meaning beyond accumulation. There seems to be an enhanced awareness of individual needs, which must be balanced against others’ needs. We are in […]

Music Is a Team Sport, and So Is the AFM!

May 1, 2022

The shared experiences that come from the creation, reproduction, and live performance of music bring people together in ways that no other art form can. Two people who cannot speak the same language or are miles apart philosophically can be united, if only for a few moments, through music. A hit song broadcast on the […]

Chicago’s Gem by the Lake: Grant Park Festival Orchestra

April 1, 2022

Spring in our Windy City always brings the anticipated opening of outdoor venues with numerous concerts throughout the city. This year marks the 88th season of the Grant Park Festival with concerts on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, from June 15 through August 20. With programming that includes symphonic and choral works and diverse pop attractions, it is the largest and longest running festival in the United States, featuring concerts that are free and open to all.







NEWS

Important Clarification to FAA Rules on Flying with Instruments

March 2, 2023

The AFM spent more than a decade trying to clarify and improve the ability of musicians to fly with instruments as carry-on baggage. These efforts resulted in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, which was implemented in 2015. The law states that if the instrument fits in the airline luggage bins and the […]

Labor Media Recognizes IM for Excellence in the Field

February 28, 2023

The International Labor Communications Association (ILCA) has announced its annual communications award winners for 2022. Annually, the organization hosts what is now the largest competition exclusively for labor journalists. Articles that embody the work of the global labor movement are judged by experts in the field from across the industry.  International Musician received six awards […]

National Music Council Marks Global Music Freedom Day with Symposium on Political Violence Against Music Creators and Performers

February 28, 2023

The Congressionally-chartered National Music Council of the United States (NMC), in collaboration with its global partner, the Paris-based International Music Council (IMC), will premiere a landmark symposium addressing the recent spike in political violence against songwriters, composers, and music performers throughout the world. The webcast, available to viewers at www.musiccouncil.org, on March 3, represents a […]