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 preparation for the 103rd AFM Convention in Ottawa (June 20-23), I have been looking back on the work of the AFM since the last convention. As I stated in the AFM 2025 Annual Report, it’s clear that the Federation stands at a crossroads. Our greatest strength has always been our unity, but in an […]
Read More
Federation officers generally come into their positions after having served for a good while as officers of their locals, and in the old days—the really old days—Federation officers’ columns in this paper seemed to be speaking more to local officers than to the general membership. As the baby boomers started taking office in the 1990s, […]
Read More
The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) 31st Convention took place last month in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The convention kicked off with an International Solidarity Forum hosted by International Labour Organization Director Amber Barth, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, Barbados Workers Union General Secretary Toni Moore, and Federation of Somali Trade Unions General Secretary Omar Faruk Osmun. Throughout the […]
Read More
Your union dues represent much more than a simple “transaction.” Many elected local union leaders hear this question from time to time: “What services do I get in exchange for what I send you each year?” This wording, with the use of “you” or “them,” unfortunately also suggests that the union is perceived as a […]
Read More
As we bring together musicians and leaders from across the country for the 103rd AFM Convention, we are focused directly on the evolving realities of our industry. For over a century, the American Federation of Musicians has worked to protect the livelihoods and labor rights of all musicians. While our mission has remained the same, […]
Read More
by the AFM Diversity Committee Visibility has always been central to organizing, but during Pride Month it takes on added meaning, especially within the American Federation of Musicians. Pride is not only a celebration; it is a reminder that rights, recognition, and dignity have been won because people have made themselves visible, often at great […]
Read More