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.
–Tax advice for informational purposes only, not intended to be a substitute for advice from your personal tax professional. En Francais Canadian musicians who independently contract their services and operate a music business are considered self-employed entrepreneurs (sole proprietors) for tax purposes. Musicians can reduce their tax bills considerably by claiming business expenses related to […]
Read Moreby Alan Friedman, CPA, Partner, Friedman, Kannenberg & Company, P.C. Tax advice for informational purposes only, not intended to be a substitute for advice from your personal tax professional. As with most music professionals, there are two sides to the business of making music: the artist side and the business side. While most gigging musicians […]
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Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA) negotiations began in Los Angeles on January 13-15. I am pleased to report that we had a very strong and focused beginning. These negotiations are being conducted with a level of preparation that reflects the high stakes of the modern recording industry. It’s no secret that our number one priority […]
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It should be no surprise to anyone when I say that, outside the realm of traditional collective bargaining, the 20th century structure of our Federation does not match the 21st century ever-changing business of music and the needs of the musicians who must evolve with it. Technology, product distribution and consumption, AI, copyright, legal niceties […]
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As musicians, learning our craft is an individual pursuit of continual practise and study. As lifelong students, nothing can replace the daily routine of flexibility studies, building endurance, learning repertoire, passing exams, and getting to a place of being hired for a job doing what we love. However, our routine must include continuous practice to […]
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I was going to title my column “Everything’s Going to Hell in a Handbasket,” then I came across The Temptations’ song “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today),” recorded in 1970 against the backdrop of racism, social injustice, and civil unrest in America. It’s an apt title for today. To say that we live […]
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