1960-1969
Record sales increased with the coming of age of the Baby Boom generation. More and more adults, as well as teenagers, listened to rock and roll as it entered the mainstream of music. Folk music also gained in popularity. Society and the arts were quickly changing as people grappled with the difficult social issues of that time. Musicians working in both classical and popular musical genres took advantage of increasingly sophisticated electronic instruments.
1960 - The union established its first agreement for Pay-TV. Nightclub bookings rose by $9 million after the US Congress cut the Cabaret Tax to 10%.
1961 - TEMPO was established as the union's political action committee.
1962 - The union undertook a campaign to amend the Copyright Act to establish performance and property rights for performing musicians on recorded music.
1965 - US President Lyndon Johnson signed legislation that created the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Although the NEA has become highly controversial, its funding made possible the development of high quality symphony orchestras and chamber music groups throughout the nation.
1966 - The remaining 10% Cabaret Tax was repealed.
1969 - The AFM recognized the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) as an organization representing orchestral musicians within the union.
