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

Music Business, Resources

Having Musicians on the Boards of Directors May Not be a Good Idea

Having Musicians on the boards of directors can be problematic when it comes to making decisions that would be better for an orchestra overall…


A Holistic Approach to Performance Preparation

“Feeling nervous before a performance is normal,” says Dr. Richard Cox, a musician, music educator, and psychologist at the Colorado School of Professional Psychology. A certain amount of “concern” is probably good, normal, and useful, Cox continues, but anxiety is a physiological hindrance to good performance. When the nervous system registers “anxiety,” it has already […]


Top 10 Reasons to Record AFM

The EMSD staff have compiled the Top 10 most important reasons why you should record under AFM agreements that you really need to read….


Air: The Life Blood of Wind Instrumentalists and Singers

Whether you’re a wind instrumentalist or singer, you have probably heard the phrase “use your diaphragm” many times throughout the course of your career from teachers and fellow musicians. This instruction concerns the constant flow of air supported by the group of muscles that musicians and singers employ for optimal sound in their performances.


Protect Your Songs with Copyright

The songwriting process is rarely easy. Giving life to that creative spark is a process that can take countless hours, the behind-the-scenes toil never known to the audience that finally hears the son


6 Tips on Nailing That Orchestral Audition Recording

After your résumé has been processed, you will probably receive material detailing how an audition tape should be prepared. Often specifications are very detailed, and you should follow them to the letter. If there is any doubt, call the personnel manager, but don’t phone him or her with trivial questions about details that you may have overlooked on the instructions.


9 Tips for Healthy Outdoor Summer Gigs

After a long winter of indoor gigs and stuffy practice rooms, you’d jump on any chance to finally play outdoors. But, before you head outside to enjoy these fun opportunities, take a little time to consider how to stay healthy in the heat and sun. Here are nine things to consider:


Canadian Waivers and Taxation for Foreign Artists

Ignoring the taxation requirements of a foreign country can lead to unforeseen complications, as this letter illustrates:


Dentistry for Musicians

Your passion for playing your instrument or singing means that you practice every day, year after year. Then, suddenly, nothing feels right. Changes in sensation or “feel,” over-development of the muscles of the mouth.


United States Taxation for Foreign Artists

by Robert Baird, President Baird Artists Management (BAM!) The issue of United States Taxation for foreign artists came up in a recent letter: I have a band that is looking to play a corporate event in the US at the end of June. My accountant just informed me of the Central Withholding Agreement that could […]








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