Musician Unions

The Unions

What are the musicians' unions?

The two major unions representing musicians are the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). The unions comprise a network of local chapters that work together to improve wages and working conditions for musicians. AFM represents musicians, while AFTRA members are vocalists and actors.

The AFM is the largest musicians' union in the world, with members from all fields and types of music. Most musicians will join this union. The group negotiates and administers agreements with the major recording companies, film and television companies, live music venues and booking agencies, and so on. These agreements designate a basic union "scale" wage that the companies must pay to musicians at a minimum, and provide for employer contributions to the AFM health and pension funds. AFM membership benefits also include local job referrals for session and tour work; group insurance rates for health, life, dental and music equipment; and collection of unpaid wages owed to members. Visit the website at http://www.afm.org for more information.

You can contact the unions  directly for information about dues, membership and benefits. The annual dues range from approximately $100-200 dollars per year, with a one-time initiation fee of $60-$100. Each local provides various additional benefits, depending on its membership and strength. 

Disclaimer: I do not intend for this information to provide or replace professional legal advice in any way. This material is only intended to provide a short-answer reference guide to the basic legal and business practices associated with the music industry. In your own interest, you may want to consult with an attorney before entering any contractual agreement.