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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Officer Columns, Vice President

Protect Yourself and Your Work with AFM Recording Contracts

After serving on the AFM International Executive Board for 13 years, I am honored to be writing my first column as AFM International Vice President in this special Electronic Media Services Division (EMSD) issue. As a 45-year AFM Local 257 (Nashville, TN) member, recording is near and dear to my heart, and it has been […]


Fostering a Broader Understanding of Shared Priorities as Musicians and Members

August is player conference season, and it was quite a month. In July, I had the opportunity to meet with the Regional Orchestra Players Association (ROPA) in Atlanta as AFM president-elect. My first official appearance as president came in Montreal, Canada, when I visited with the Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians (Organisation des Musiciens d’Orchestre […]


An AFM for All Musicians: We Will Listen, Organize, and Fight

As I write this, I am transitioning from president of Local 802 (New York City) to my new role as international president of the AFM. As I do so, I close one chapter of my journey as a union leader and open another, in which I foresee unique challenges and opportunities ahead for this great […]


Secretary-Treasurer’s Message

The delegates to the 102nd AFM Convention this past June have spoken, setting the Federation stage for the next three years. I am honored and humbled to have been elected as one of those stage props. Over the past few decades, the AFM has been graced with a long line of dedicated international secretary-treasurers, and […]


Building Unity – It’s About What We Can Do Together

I’ll begin my final column (#156 of 156) by congratulating President-elect Tino Gagliardi, Secretary-Treasurer-elect Ken Shirk and the incoming executive committee on their election as your new AFM International Executive Board at the 102nd AFM Convention in Las Vegas. You inspired them to make the decision to run, and they did so because they believe […]


Farewell

This month’s column (July 2023) will be my last as your AFM international secretary-treasurer since I will retire at the end of the month. I must admit to feeling somewhat ambivalent about my retirement. While I look forward to the free time retirement affords, the idea of not working (having worked all my life either […]


Look Out – It’s Already Here

The nightly news has, for the past year at least, featured reports of how artificial intelligence (AI) has become significantly more intelligent. Examples of “deep fakes” permeate social media, depicting well-known celebrities in various questionable activities, while it was not that celebrity at all, but a computer-generated rendition. The use of AI has become so […]


In Unity, There Is Strength

Last month, I announced that I would not be a candidate for International President during the election of officers at the 102nd AFM Convention, scheduled for June 26-29 in Las Vegas. After more than 40 years of service—28 years as president of Local 72-147 (Dallas-Ft. Worth) and 13 years as your international president, I have […]


Looking Back at Seven Years as AFM Secretary-Treasurer

For those of you who have not heard, I have made the decision to retire at the end of my term, which will be July 31. Therefore, this will be my penultimate column for the International Musician. This is the 83rd column I have written for the IM and my final column next month (July), […]


A Time to Reminisce

It’s all winding down for me. I’m honored to have had nearly 25 years as an officer in the AFM, two years as board member of Local 99 (Portland, OR), and 21 years as its president. And for the last 13 years, I’ve also been the AFM international vice president. That’s in addition to the […]








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