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.
July 3, 2023
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 […]
July 3, 2023
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 […]
June 1, 2023
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 […]
June 1, 2023
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), […]
June 1, 2023
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 […]
June 1, 2023
Lire cette chronique en français: https://internationalmusician.org/enfin/ It was almost 30 years ago that the AFM International Executive Board (IEB) approved a document for use in Canada to cover theatrical motion pictures and episodic television film, which were considered Canadian content. More specifically, the productions had to comply with established criteria, such as certification through the […]
June 1, 2023
par Alan Willaert, vice-président de la FAM pour le Canada Il y a près de 30 ans, le conseil international de direction de la FAM a entériné un document pour le Canada s’appliquant au cinéma commercial et aux séries télévisées, qui étaient considérés comme du contenu canadien. Plus précisément, les productions devaient répondre à certains […]
May 1, 2023
As I write this column over Easter weekend, my thoughts turn to the actors and stage managers who work and perform the Broadway touring musical productions across North America, represented by the AFL-CIO affiliated Actors’ Equity Association (Equity). For months, Equity has been negotiating with producers, represented by the Broadway League and Disney Theatrical, for […]
May 1, 2023
by Jay Blumenthal, AFM International Secretary-Treasurer Globalization has created the imperative for the AFM’s continued membership in the International Federation of Musicians or Fédération International des Musiciens (FIM). It has become increasingly important that the AFM has a seat at the table where conversations are taking place between musician unions around the world. Conversations include […]
May 1, 2023
by Dave Pomeroy, International Executive Board and President of Local 257 (Nashville, TN) The AFM’s unique history demonstrates a steady pattern of labor and technology intersecting in ways that simply could not have been imagined by those who founded this union in 1896. The constantly evolving relationship between musicians and technology is well documented in […]