FMA: A Unified Voice for Freelance and Independent Musicians

January 1, 2026

Wages Argott  -  AFM Director of Freelance Services and Membership Development

by Wages Argott, AFM Director of Freelance Services and Membership Development

By now I’m sure many of you may have either seen some correspondence or heard mention of the Freelance Musicians Association (FMA). So what exactly is this latest acronym and why should you care? The simplest answer is this: the FMA is a binational body of freelance and independent musicians from across the Federation who meet regularly to discuss and strategize around the specific issues and needs of musicians who are self-employed and/or engaged by multiple hiring entities.

Whether you call yourself an indie, freelance, or independent musician, most all of our membership falls under this description to a certain degree. Even members who work under a collective bargaining agreement full time likely take on additional work that may not have the same codified protections.

Until now, what has been the designated meeting space for these musicians to brainstorm around their concerns and organize? Local membership meetings? Infrequent committee gatherings? Happy hour?

The Freelance Musicians Association offers a consistent, structured meeting format for folks performing across all genres, who may dabble in live performance, including theater, symphonic, touring, or one-off shows, and/or recording, whether smaller indie or self-produced projects or larger scale work in the studio.

So why does this body of musicians need this venue and structure to further its work? First, for Federation officers, staff, and local leaders to best address the needs and issues of our freelance and independent musicians, we need to hear about what’s going on. But these spaces aren’t led by those folks—the FMA is comprised of working members just like you who want to have a voice and find support for issues and concerns they face. Sometimes even just venting about our issues in a common space is helpful, but often you’ll find support and counsel from folks who’ve faced similar issues. We also discuss our common obstacles that we want to direct Federation resources to tackle, pressure our legislative leaders to address, or even find common employers to stand against.

So how do we compress all this information and meaningful discussion into a one-hour general meeting? This is where our structure comes in. We currently have a leadership body within the group, and these general meetings follow Robert’s Rules, the standard for conducting meetings in a fair and orderly manner. In early 2026, the FMA will elect its inaugural slate of officers and directors and vote to adopt official bylaws.

Ok, cool, but how do you talk about all these things across all the different types of work, in a limited amount of time, even when taking turns? So far, we’ve created several standing committees that meet outside of the larger body that focus on specific kinds of work and tackle specific topics. So, whether you’re a jazz musician primarily performing in clubs, a recording musician who’s concerned about AI protections, or a touring Canadian musician concerned about P-2 visa processing times and costs, there’s probably a committee for you. Additionally, freelance musicians are strongly encouraged to get involved with or start freelance organizing committees in their locals, as this work will always drive and inform our larger body.

So what makes this group different from other freelance interest groups in the Federation? Is this a player conference? What’s a player conference? Per AFM Bylaws, “…conferences composed of representatives from Symphonic Orchestras or of member musicians in other specialized fields (“Player Conferences”), may be organized and granted official status in the AFM by the IEB.” Official status would mean delegate representation at our triennial international convention, and a real voice within Federation structure.

While the FMA isn’t a recognized player conference yet, it is supported by Federation staff and officers, and we are working diligently to make that a reality in 2026. Whatever the designation or classification, the work will continue, our voices will be heard, and we’ll keep growing and gaining strength in the fight for our profession.

To learn more, visit AFMfreelance.org.