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.
January 31, 2026
Stakes were high for professional string instrumentalists during this fall’s Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) treaty meeting. Under consideration was a proposal from Brazil to relist Pernambuco to Appendix I, the highest level of protection. Fortunately, Pernambuco was kept on Appendix II for another three years, but with new permit requirements for international sales beginning March 5.
“Our overarching sentiment is relief,” says Rochelle Skolnick, director of AFM Symphonic Services Division. “A placement on Appendix I would have seriously limited musicians’ ability to travel, and it would have severely undermined musicians’ ability to rely on the value of their investments in bows. Musicians spend a lot of money on their equipment, and a big part of that for a string player is bows. To a certain extent, the investments we make in instruments and bows serve as a retirement strategy, as we do not have many other resources. It would have been devastating on so many levels.”
In this free 90-minute webinar featuring speakers from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, musical instrument owners, dealers, and makers can learn about the new rules and steps for legal compliance, and hear from music sector leaders about actions to identify the wood material in bows and support a sustainable future for the species.
Webinar: February 10, 3 p.m. Eastern Register here.