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.
In 1979, Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) was the first American orchestra to set foot in China after normalization of relations with the US following the tumultuous Cultural Revolution.
BAE’s Hot Fuzz dual-stomp guitar pedal has both a vintage-style treble booster and a vintage-style fuzz, each with independent bypass switches. The Hi Frequency Boost features single gain control. With treble, bass, juice, and gain controls, Hot Fuzz lets you dial in the perfect tone.
Yamaha’s SessionCake compact amplifier and headphone mixer combo is a perfect solution for musicians on the go who need to rehearse but also keep things quiet. Up to eight musicians can collaborate over a shared personal audio connection, hearing each other’s instruments or vocals through their individual headphones.
The ZVEX TB-1 Tea Ball Microphone is actually built inside a stainless steel tea ball. It is designed for specialty use and will reject sounds from sources further than an inch away from its grill.
The Hafler HA75-DAC tube-based headphone amplifier and USB digital-to-analog converter can be tailored to suit both your listening style and your headphones.
The PRS Custom 24-08 combines the quintessential Custom 24 PRS with features from the PRS 408 models. It combines the 24’s maple top, mahogany back and neck, 24 frets, 25-inch scale length…
Thermo Gig Gloves are the ultimate glove to protect your hands during cold weather gigs, shows, and events. Thermo Gig Gloves provide all the same features as original Gig Gloves—breathability, access to the first three fingers via fold-over fingertips (for fine motor tasks), and touchscreen capability—plus have an internal
layer of super warm fleece.
Need something for the musician in your life? Check our holiday gift guide filled with all sorts of items any musician could use.
The Secret Language of the Heart: How to Use Music, Sound, and Vibration as Tools for Healing and Personal Transformation, by Barry Goldstein.
One of the most in-demand bandleaders of all time, Lester Lanin began his career in the 1920s and his popularity grew worldwide.