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.

A Star Behind the Scenes You have likely heard the artistry of Bobbye Hall without even realizing it. While her name might be a discovery for some, her distinctive percussion has graced the tracks of the world’s most beloved recording artists. A member of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA), Hall established her reputation in Detroit’s […]

Double Trouble, Double Brass: How Two Trombonists Keep the Music (and the Marriage) Going It can be tough being partnered with another musician. Respective schedules can make it hard to see each other and spend quality time. And when both partners play the same instrument, that adds another level. The International Musician sat down with […]

There’s an old saying that age is no substitute for experience. For trumpet player Will Leathers of Local 257 (Nashville, TN), a more appropriate saying might be that it’s not the years in your life but the life in your years that counts. A Mississauga, Ontario, native, Leathers is currently principal trumpet in both the Nashville […]

Danielle Lee Hutchison of Local 802 (New York City) says she has always loved a good story. Indeed, it’s one of the reasons she decided to pursue a career in musical theater. As keyboardist and music director for the national tour of the Broadway musical Suffs, Hutchison—who goes by the professional name of Dani Lee […]

Playing with Purpose: A Mission to Elevate Women in Bass Anyone who plays an instrument gets used to fielding the same or similar comments particular to that instrument. Horn players, for example, get asked about the puddles of liquid they leave behind on the stage floor. For bass players—especially those who might be less than […]

Ilya Toshinskiy’s Unlikely Path to Becoming a Top Nashville Session Musician In conversation with bluegrass artist Ilya Toshinskiy, one of the first things you notice after his dry and easy wit is his unusually accented English. Growing up as he did in a small city near Moscow, of course you’d expect to hear Russian inflections […]

With diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives under attack on multiple fronts in our current political climate, it stands to reason one of the ways to counter these threats is greater visibility. So believes Kai Rocke, a member of Local 99 (Portland, OR) and a bassoonist and contrabassoonist with Oregon Symphony. “At a very basic […]

The International Musician regularly features success stories about musical groups that have organized under the Federation. These victories illustrate how working musicians can receive fair treatment and a living wage through AFM membership. Such achievements not only strengthen our union, they also enhance the resilience of the music industry. Successful organizing campaigns are always gratifying […]

Harmony in the Hustle: Austin Musician’s Vision for Collective Empowerment One priority set at the last AFM Convention was working to better support efforts to organize independent (freelance) musicians at the local level. One place where the indie musician scene is flourishing is Austin, Texas, under the jurisdiction of Local 433. But what is it […]

Growing up as the only child of Korean parentage in his small Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, community, John Yun, music director of the surprise Broadway hit Maybe Happy Ending in New York’s Belasco Theatre, says he didn’t really see the piano as his future. “I wasn’t a great student,” Yun remembers. “I kind of did the […]