American Federation of Musicians (AFM)
The union for professional musicians in the US and Canada, relevant for musical theater and recording artists
Overview
The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) is the largest union for professional musicians in the United States and Canada. It represents instrumentalists, vocalists, conductors, and arrangers working in live performance, recording, film scoring, and broadcast.
Membership is relevant for actors who are also working musicians, particularly those in musical theater, touring bands, or recording sessions. AFM contracts cover orchestras, Broadway pit musicians, film scoring sessions, and commercial jingles.
How It Works
AFM membership provides access to collectively bargained wages, pension and health benefits, and legal protections for intellectual property. The union also advocates for musicians' rights in the evolving landscape of streaming and digital distribution.
Initiation fees and dues vary by local chapter. Contact your nearest AFM local for specific pricing and membership requirements. Many locals offer installment payment plans for the initiation fee.
Who Uses It
AFM membership is essential for actors who perform music professionally, especially in musical theater or as recording artists. Understanding both SAG-AFTRA and AFM jurisdictions helps you navigate dual-discipline careers.
Pricing & Plans
AFM initiation fees and dues vary by local chapter, as the federation is organized into local unions covering different geographic areas across the United States and Canada. Typical initiation fees range from $50-300 depending on the local, with annual dues varying based on the local and the member's earnings category. Some locals offer reduced rates for students and emerging professionals. AFM contracts negotiate minimum pay rates for various types of musical work: Broadway pit musicians earn substantial weekly minimums, recording sessions have per-session rates, and film scoring work is compensated at negotiated rates that vary by project scale. The union's health insurance and pension plans require minimum earnings in covered AFM work, with thresholds varying by plan and local. Compared to SAG-AFTRA's $3,000 initiation fee, AFM membership is generally more affordable to join, making it a more accessible union entry point for performing artists who qualify.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
AFM membership provides access to the highest-paying and most professionally protected musical performance opportunities in the entertainment industry, including Broadway pit orchestras, film scoring sessions, recording dates, and live concert work with collectively bargained minimum pay rates. The union's pension and health plans, while requiring minimum earnings to qualify, provide essential benefits for professional musicians whose freelance careers make individual insurance and retirement planning particularly challenging. AFM contracts include protections for musicians' intellectual property rights, ensuring that performers receive appropriate compensation when their recorded performances are used in films, television, streaming, and commercial contexts. For actor-musicians working in musical theater, understanding AFM jurisdiction is essential, as the musicians in the pit orchestra are AFM members and the actors on stage may be covered by Equity or SAG-AFTRA depending on the production type. The union advocates for musicians' rights in the evolving landscape of streaming, AI-generated music, and digital distribution, working to ensure human performers continue to be compensated fairly as technology transforms the industry. AFM's local structure provides community and networking opportunities within your geographic area's music scene, connecting you with fellow professionals, performance opportunities, and industry knowledge specific to your local market.
What Could Be Better
AFM's local-based structure means significant variation in membership experiences, with some locals offering robust support, networking, and advocacy while others may be less active or well-resourced, creating an inconsistent membership experience across the federation. The union's focus on instrumental and orchestral musicians means that actor-musicians whose primary identity is as performers rather than instrumentalists may find that AFM membership is less central to their career than SAG-AFTRA or Equity membership. The minimum earnings thresholds for health insurance and pension benefits can be difficult for part-time or emerging musicians to reach, meaning many members pay dues without accessing the benefits that justify the cost. The recording industry's ongoing transformation has reduced the volume of traditional recording session work that was historically a core AFM employment area, meaning some types of covered work are less available than they were in previous decades. Navigating the jurisdictional overlap between AFM, SAG-AFTRA, and Equity for musical theater and recorded performance work can be complex, and misunderstanding which union covers which aspect of a project can create professional complications. Some locals have faced organizational challenges including declining membership, limited staff, and reduced bargaining power in markets where non-union music work dominates.
Our Recommendation
AFM membership is essential for actors who perform music professionally, particularly those working as instrumentalists in musical theater pit orchestras, recording sessions, film scoring dates, or live performance contexts where AFM contracts set the standard terms. Actor-musicians who sing but do not play instruments may find that their musical theater work is covered by Equity or SAG-AFTRA rather than AFM, and should research the specific jurisdictional boundaries before investing in AFM membership. If you play an instrument at a professional level and pursue performance opportunities in musical contexts, AFM membership provides access to the highest-paying gigs and most protective working conditions available. For actors who occasionally perform music as part of their theatrical work but do not identify as professional musicians, understanding AFM's role is important for set etiquette and industry knowledge even if full membership is not necessary. Dual-discipline actor-musicians should consult with experienced professionals who navigate both worlds to understand how to manage multiple union memberships and jurisdictional considerations effectively.
Pro Tips
Research the specific AFM local that covers your geographic area and primary musical discipline, as each local has distinct strengths, requirements, and community cultures that affect your membership experience. If you are an actor-musician transitioning into musical theater, connect with musicians already working in your target market to understand how AFM membership integrates with Equity and SAG-AFTRA obligations in musical productions. Take advantage of your local's networking events, jam sessions, and professional development programs, as these community activities connect you with performance opportunities and fellow musicians who can recommend you for gigs. Maintain your AFM membership in good standing alongside any other union memberships, and understand how dues payments and eligibility requirements interact if you work across multiple union jurisdictions. If you are a student musician considering a professional career that combines acting and music, research AFM membership requirements early and consider joining while student rates are available, as the lower initiation fee represents a meaningful savings.