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.
Delirium Street Party Brass Limited Pressing Recording This ensemble from Local 547 (Calgary, AB) delivers a fresh take on the increasingly popular brass band genre. Anchored by the low bass line from the sousaphone, Delirium Street Party Brass blends elements from world street brass and percussion traditions—especially New Orleans—but in a live pop format. Musicians […]
Terry Klinefelter On her newest CD, pianist Terry Klinefelter of Local 45 (Allentown, PA) shines a spotlight on the work of much-admired composers and friends David Bennett Thomas, Ron Thomas, and Grammy-nominated composer Clarice Assad. The solo piece, “Tarry Not,” written for Klinefelter by Bennett Thomas in 2011, is a large-scale structure with stark virtuosity. […]
As Donald Trump faces a wave of complaints from musicians, a judge has ruled against him in a case over his unauthorized use of Eddy Grant’s famed 1980s jam, “Electric Avenue.” The judgment comes more than four years after the initial complaint was filed in September 2020. In a Manhattan court, a federal judge ruled […]
August 31, 2024
Musician Elise Witt of Local 1000 (Nongeographic) uses singing and songwriting to teach students English and says, “Sometimes a concept that is hard for students to grasp becomes easy when we write a song about it.” In 2009, she became the founder of the music program at Global Village Project (GVP), a middle school for teenage refugee girls […]
The Tamburo Mia is a nesting drum set that blends portability with versatility and sound quality. Designed for drummers on the move, each of the kit’s drum shells fit seamlessly and simultaneously within the bass drum, transforming it into an easily transportable package. The shells are constructed from high-quality materials, producing rich, full-bodied tones with […]
Leta E. Miller follows the AFM’s history of Black locals, which were chartered alongside white locals in the same territories, from their origins and successes in the 1920s through Depression-era crises to the fraught process of desegregation in the 1960s and 1970s. Millier details how Black AFM locals sought to ensure employment and competitive wages for members with always evolving […]
Gadd: A Live in Time is heavily illustrated with nearly 200 photographs of Steve Gadd, the much-celebrated and in-demand drummer of Local 802 (New York City). He was introduced to the drums at age three by his uncle, a former Army drummer, who gave him his first pair of sticks. Gadd was prodigious, quickly absorbing […]
Struggling to find the perfect gift for the musician in your life? Or for yourself!Check out the great suggestions below: Luis & Clark Instruments Contrary to the beliefs of many, Luis & Clark carbon fiber instruments are not “machine made.” They are individually made, by hand. They are fabricated, using molds and each is made […]
In this book, Julie Ayer of Local 30-73 (St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN) shows how some of the world’s finest musicians went from sitting in the Minnesota Orchestra to standing in the picket line—and how their city rallied around them. The lockout that began on October 1, 2012 became the longest and most infamous work stoppage in […]
Under the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra’s August 2021 collective bargaining agreement, audiology visits and custom earplugs are included for every musician.