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 […]


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 […]


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

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 […]


New Members, Returning Members, Let’s Grow Together

I hope you all read AFM International Executive Board Member Dave Pomeroy’s article in the May IM. I will use it as a jumping off point to continue the discussion of our union, our membership, and the role we all play in direct engagement and participation in our path forward. Like Pomeroy, I’m somewhat optimistic […]


COVID-19, Version 4.0

OK, all those who are done with COVID, raise your hands! (I have this fun image in my head of people raising their hands in all kinds of strange places, with people around them wondering what the hell they’re doing.) As a union officer and as a human being, it seems like I can’t go […]


“The Times They Are a-Changin’” or “Disruptive Innovation”?

There’s a new energy out there. You can feel it, right?  It’s not just that things are starting to open up, even in our industry. It’s that this lost year may not have been a complete loss, but rather a realignment. Part of that realignment has to do with the level of activism and engagement that I’m seeing all around us.  […]


The COVID Blues

We have to stay nimble and we have to determine ways that we can use this tragedy as an opportunity for making systemic change, work to come out stronger on the other side.


A Month in the Life of a Union Officer

“Now that I’m a union officer at both the local and international levels, the work can be just as exhausting and daunting, but fulfilling as well.”


A Report on the International Freelance Conference

At the end of May, the International Federation of Musicians (FIM), a membership organization that includes musician unions from around the world, hosted their first-ever International Freelance Conference.


Exploit Legislative Relationships to Further Our Causes

One of the themes presented at our AFM Officer Training programs that take place just prior to our regional AFM Conferences is the importance of the relationships we create with our communities and our elected officials.








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