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 ABOUT THE AFM

Officer Columns, Secretary-Treasurer

Ken Shirk – AFM International Secretary-Treasurer

Do Safe Harbor Provisions Effectively Provide a License to Steal?

There are many reasons why working men and women join a Union. The ability to act and bargain collectively is one of the most important. Time and again we have seen that our strength and power is directly related to our ability to act collectively rather than individually.  The same holds true when we act […]


AFM Budgeting Process Begins for 2020

Budgeting is not an exact science, but rather a best guess estimate based on past actuals and the expectations for the upcoming year.


Convention-Directed Study Commences, Staffing Changes in New York City Headquarters

The delegates to the 2019 AFM Convention passed substitute Resolution No. 9 that directs the international president and the international secretary-treasurer to “commence a study regarding establishing and implementing more efficient and uniform tools and procedures for the administration of AFM electronic media contracts, to decrease the expense of collecting, processing, and remitting payments to […]


Hurricane Season Is Upon Us

An ammended article in the AFM bylaws allows the AFM Emergency Relief Fund to provide assistance for hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and wildfires.


Take a Look at Our New AFM Headquarters

The AFM headquarters office in New York moved into a new office space on the ninth floor at 1501 Broadway on April 1, 2019.


The Formation of AFM Bylaws

When it comes to the formation of bylaws in the AFM, a process is still in use today that has been used within the organization for decades.


Division in a Union Is Like Kryptonite

The reduction in pension benefits is truly unfortunate, but making sure there is a Pension Fund for musicians in the future is so important for all of us.


2019 AFM 101st Convention Coming Soon!

The 2019 AFM 101st Convention will be held at the Westgate Casino and Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada June 17th through June 20th.


We’re In!

The long-awaited move to our new office space happened April 1. The construction timeline to build out the new space was very tight, so things went right down to the wire, which created plenty of angst and nail biting. The AFM International Executive Board (IEB) meeting scheduled for April 2 was the first official meeting in the new space.


New Directive from USCIS

Last year, the Department for Professional Employees (DPE) of the AFL-CIO hosted a meeting with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director L. Francis Cissna and the coordinating committees of several Arts, Entertainment and Media Industry (AEMI) unions.








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