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American Federation of Musicians (AFM)

1 minute read | Last updated: 4 months ago

What does American Federation of Musicians (AFM) mean?

American Federation of Musicians (AFM) is the largest organization representing professional musicians in North America. Founded in 1896, AFM advocates for fair wages, benefits, and working conditions for musicians working in live performances, film, television, radio, and digital media. AFM also provides pension plans, healthcare benefits, and collective bargaining agreements to ensure that musicians are fairly compensated for their work.

AFM members include musicians from a wide variety of fields, such as orchestras, concert tours, film scores, TV soundtracks, and recording sessions. AFM also plays a key role in protecting the intellectual property rights of musicians, ensuring they receive royalties for their recorded work.

Example:A film score composer is guaranteed fair pay and pension benefits through an AFM-negotiated contract for a movie production.
Example: An orchestra musician on a national tour receives healthcare benefits and pension contributions thanks to AFM’s agreements.

Did You Know?
AFM represents more than 80,000 musicians across the U.S. and Canada, including famous orchestras, touring bands, and studio musicians!

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