We are deeply saddened to announce the sudden loss of our esteemed colleague and friend, Pat Varriale, Electronic Media Services Division Director and Assistant to the President, who passed away Friday, May 13. Pat had been a valued member of our team since he was first hired in October 1974 into what was then known […]
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) are critical to the recovery of the arts and entertainment industries. The NEA and NEH support job opportunities for union members in every state, as well as for local economies devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. An NEA study found that the […]
After much work and collaboration, we pleased to announce the release of “Welcome to the AFM”, a video produced by International Executive Board member Dave Pomeroy with the assistance of International Vice President Bruce Fife, Organizing and Education Director Michael Manley, and Communications Director Antoinette Follett. Created to introduce new members and other interested musicians […]
The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada profoundly condemns Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war on Ukraine. We express our unwavering solidarity with the brave Ukrainian people and their elected government during this horrific time. We are concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian toll resulting from the barbaric attacks on the civilian population […]
During a special meeting of the International Executive Board via videoconference in January, the AFM International Executive Board (IEB) determined that holding the 102nd Convention in June 2022 in Las Vegas would be impossible due to COVID variants, travel restrictions, and consideration for delegates and staff health and safety. The IEB has rescheduled the 102nd […]
As you may know, musicians and vocalists do not receive a single cent when their recordings are broadcast on AM/FM radio stations. Incredibly, the United States is the only industrialized nation besides North Korea and Iran that has no law requiring a broadcast performance royalty for sound recordings to be paid to artists, musicians, and […]
Today we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a champion of civil rights, equality, and justice. At a time when working people across the country are taking back their power, I am inspired by Dr. King who challenged us to realize that a better world is possible when we stand together. Dr. King denounced “right […]
Musicians and radio performers should be paid fair wages for their work. The American Music Fairness Act is designed to provide royalty payments to artists, session musicians, and vocalists when their recordings are performed and broadcast over AM and FM radio. The American Music Fairness Act will: Ensure performers are compensated when their songs are […]
Today (October 19) marks the 125th anniversary of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM). In the 125 years since its inception, the AFM has had one goal: to elevate, protect, and advance the interests of all musicians who receive pay for their musical services. It was an evolutionary act of organizing that gathered musician leaders […]
Congress proposes to restore tax deductions for performing artists. The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act legislation would provide much-needed tax relief to working artists by updating the Qualified Performing Artist (QPA) tax deduction, which allows certain performing artists to deduct the cost of expenses incurred in the course of their employment. The Performing Artist Tax […]