The Viability of the American Federation of Musicians in the 21st Century

For many years the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) has struggled with the manifold ways that technology has affected the careers of working musicians. This paper discusses the following matters: • A brief history of the AFM: beginnings, how the organization is structured: the Canadian branch, ICSOM, ROPA, the Recording Musicians Association, the theater sub-group, and services for freelance musicians. • Why has the membership of the union fallen by over 75% since the 1980s? • In what ways is the union effective or ineffective in 2019? Who does the union serve, and what musical constituency is ignored or glossed over? Who leads the union, and what are the objectives of these leaders? • Possible approaches to modernizing the union’s approach to contemporary music and organizational practices.