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.
December 1, 2020
None of us alive today are ever going to forget 2020. We are living within a perfect storm of crises, a string of earth-shattering events, virtually one after and on top of another. Obviously, this started in March with COVID-19 shutting our nation down and the resultant economic meltdown that has devastated our industry, and […]
December 1, 2020
We are all missing live music dearly—and greatly missing those who perform it. Part of the Music Performance Trust Fund’s (MPTF) mission statement reads that we are to “contribute to the public’s knowledge and appreciation of music.” So in these days when it has become a great challenge to provide the MPTF’s resources for professional musicians […]
November 2, 2020
With the advent of COVID-19 and its economic effects, some believe that a union resurgence is underway.
November 1, 2020
français I have previously articulated that today’s society is blissfully oblivious of how a five-day week, an eight-hour working day, holidays, maternity leave, healthcare, and the simple right to organize (along with many other benefits) transpired. The perceived value of these has become minimized, and the desire to maintain the required solidarity has been lost, […]
November 1, 2020
On March 11, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. The following day, the governor of New York State banned the gathering of groups larger than 500 people after 5 p.m. each night, effectively shutting down all of Broadway. On March 20, the AFM and the Broadway League came to a settlement agreement […]
November 1, 2020
The strength of the AFM and our locals depends on the interest and solidarity of our members. I am often asked, “What does our union do for me?” During this pandemic, this question becomes even more real. We have had to endure unemployment, insecurity, and isolation. Our ability to interact musically with each other has […]
November 1, 2020
Recently, AFL-CIO transition documents (currently in draft form) contain numerous recommendations for the next US administration, one of which includes a recommendation to restore our identity as a welcoming nation.
October 1, 2020
Looking ahead in this pandemic-driven time of political and economic uncertainty, professional musicians, whether working in the gig economy as freelancers or employed under orchestral or theatrical collective bargaining agreements, are coping with the fear being used to exploit us by employers and by politicians on the local, regional, and federal levels. Fear is the […]
October 1, 2020
Revisions to Canada’s Copyright Act are imminent, and indications are that many of the recommendations submitted by the Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM), perhaps most, have a very good chance of making it into legislation. Contained within our submission was expansion of the private copying regime, administered by the Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC), in […]
October 1, 2020
As the already lengthy pandemic continues, we are seeing governmental support come to an end, putting increased financial stress on musicians who are out of work. The Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO has put together a resource list that may be helpful to you based on your individual situation. Health Insurance (Medicaid) and ACA Health […]