named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
AFM Diversity Committee
Committee focused on increasing representation, leadership opportunities, and inclusion of underrepresented groups within the AFM membership and leadership
Commercial Announcements Agreement
Covers musicians recording music tracks for commercials across television, radio, and internet platforms, ensuring session pay and residual payments based on usage cycles
EMSD Resource Center
Centralized hub providing contract information, wage scales, and filing instructions for recording projects across media types including commercials, film, television, and digital platforms
Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA)
Union contract covering musicians performing on recordings intended for public sale or distribution, including provisions for residual payments and new use fees
Video Game Agreement
Establishes wage rates and working conditions for musicians recording underscoring for video games, with rates based on orchestra size
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Musician Advocacy and Labor Representation 5 activities
- Advocating for musicians through political engagementBuilds political power at all levels of government to advance musicians' interests, promote economic opportunity, and support social justice.
- Advocating for musicians' rights and fair compensationAdvocates for professional musicians by negotiating fair agreements, securing residual and session payments for recording reuse, collecting licensing fees in supplemental markets, and ensuring proper compensation and benefits through contract enforcement and industry lobbying.
- Combating discrimination and promoting equitable workplacesWorks to ensure musicians are free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, and operates a confidential audition complaint hotline to investigate and resolve issues in audition processes.
- Organizing musicians and building union representationOrganizes unorganized musicians to expand union membership, secure control over labor markets, and improve wages and working conditions through collective bargaining.
- Securing health care, pension, and other benefits for musiciansNegotiates and protects access to health care and pension benefits for musicians through collective bargaining and union representation.
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Industry and Community Recognition Awards 1 activity
- Administering diversity and advocacy recognition programsEstablishes and presents the AFM Diversity Awards annually at the AFM Convention to recognize efforts promoting diversity, and honors recipients with trophies, full attendance support, and media features.
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Community Safety and Conduct Enforcement 1 activity
- Ensuring respectful and inclusive union environmentsEnsures that AFM events, meetings, and activities are conducted in a respectful environment free from unlawful discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristics.
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Member Hardship Assistance Programs 1 activity
- Providing emergency financial assistance to musiciansOffers financial aid to AFM members in good standing who are affected by major disasters, hurricanes, or health emergencies such as COVID-19, in areas officially designated by FEMA or provincial authorities.
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Union Member Training & Leadership Development 1 activity
- Supporting local union capacity and leadership developmentProvides resources and guidance to local unions for establishing diversity committees and develops trained, diverse leaders across all levels of the union to reflect the membership.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Developing tools to report workplace misconductLaunched the #NotMe App to enable musicians to discreetly report incidents of workplace misconduct.
- Hosting the AFM Convention and related eventsConducts the biennial AFM Convention, including organizing meetings, events, and leadership gatherings, such as the 103rd Convention held in Ottawa, Ontario in 2026.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$15.14M
Contributions & grants$9.22M61%
Program service revenue$689K5%
Investment income$1.38M9%
Other revenue$3.86M
expenses
Total expenses$12.12M
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$6.59M
Grants paid out$17K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$48.94M
Cash$35.44M
Investments$51K
Liabilities$20.38M
Net assets$28.56M
Liquid reserves35.1 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +9.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 15
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augustino Gagliardi | PRESIDENT | 29 | $238K |
| Kenneth Shirk | SEC./TREASURER | 29 | $219K |
| RUSSELL NAYMARK | In House Counsel - EMSD | 35 | $198K |
| ROCHELLE SKOLNICK | DIRECTOR - SYMPHONIC SERVICES | 35 | $178K |
| Jennifer Garner | In House Counsel | 35 | $178K |
| MICHELLE LEDGISTER | Comptroller | 35 | $151K |
| Gabriel S Kristal | Dir Org/Assistant to President | 35 | $146K |
| Allistair Elliot | VICE PRESIDENT eff. 5/9/24 | 33 | $116K |
| ALAN WILLAERT | VICE PRESIDENT thru 4/18/24 | 33 | $62K |
| DAVE POMEROY | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, VP | 1 | $25K |
| Luc Fortin | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 1 | $20K |
| Teresa Dusty Kelly | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 1 | $20K |
| EDGARDO MALAGA | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 1 | $20K |
| JOHN ACOSTA | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 1 | $20K |
| MARY C MORRISON | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 1 | $20K |
relationships · 23
Who they work with
- #NotMe App Partner — Partner platform allowing AFM members to report incidents and lodge complaints about workplace misconduct.
- AFL-CIO Network — AFM is an affiliated labor union of the AFL-CIO.
- AFL-CIO Labor Commission on Racial and Economic Justice Partner — Utilizes toolkit modules from the AFL-CIO Labor Commission on Racial and Economic Justice for DEIA training and discussions on racial bias and equity.
- AFM Diversity Committee Network — Oversees and promotes the AFM Diversity Awards and related initiatives to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the AFM.
- AFM Diversity Committee Partner — Year-round committee appointed by the AFM International President to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the union.
- Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers Partner — Negotiates major film agreements covering in-studio scoring and on-camera musician appearances.
- Bank of Labor Partner — Sponsor of the 103rd AFM Convention.
- Black Orchestra Network Partner — Partners with the Black Orchestra Network to support Black orchestral musicians through community building and amplifying voices.
- Canadian unions Partner — Invited to join the AFM in its first year; reflected in the organization's name change to include Canada.
- Entertainment Community Fund Partner — Refers musicians affected by disasters and public health crises to the Entertainment Community Fund for additional emergency financial assistance and resources.
- Government of Canada Government — Uses provincial states of emergency in Canada to determine eligibility for the AFM Emergency Relief Fund.
- Government of Nova Scotia Government — References Nova Scotia’s state of emergency declarations to assess eligibility for relief funds for Canadian members.
- Grammy Award Winners Partner — Includes Grammy Award-winning performers in its represented talent roster.
- HUB Partner — Sponsor of the 103rd AFM Convention.
- MPTF Partner — Sponsor of the 103rd AFM Convention.
- Musicians Foundation Partner — Refers musicians in need to the Musicians Foundation for financial assistance during times of crisis and transition.
- Other organizations concerned with social and economic justice Partner — Partners in coalition to advance shared goals around social and economic justice.
- SoundExchange Partner — Sponsor of the 103rd AFM Convention.
- Sphinx Organization Partner — Collaborates with the Sphinx Organization to increase representation in classical music by addressing systemic lack of access in Black and Latino communities.
- Symphony Orchestras Partner — Represents symphony orchestras as part of its musical act offerings.
- US Federal Emergency Management Agency Government — Uses FEMA disaster declarations to determine eligibility for the AFM Emergency Relief Fund and Hurricane Relief Fund.
- Union Plus Partner — Collaborates with Union Plus to inform members about eligibility for disaster relief grants through the Union Plus Disaster Relief Grant program.
- Union Plus Partner — Sponsor of the 103rd AFM Convention.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Adaptive Advocacy Against Technological and Industry Disruptionmethodology: technology_and_industry_advocacyBy proactively advocating for regulatory and contractual safeguards in response to emerging technologies like AI and inequitable streaming models, the AFM protects musicians’ livelihoods, because technological shifts otherwise erode compensation and control over creative work.
- Collective Bargaining for Economic and Professional Rightsmethodology: collective_actionBy organizing musicians into a unified labor union, the AFM increases collective power to negotiate fair compensation, working conditions, and legal protections, because individual musicians lack leverage in asymmetric relationships with employers and industry platforms.
- DEIA Integration Through Recognition and Leadership Developmentmethodology: two_generation_approachBy combining recognition awards, affirmative outreach, and leadership pipelines for underrepresented members, the AFM strengthens inclusion and equity, because visibility, structured support, and advancement opportunities reinforce sustained participation and organizational legitimacy.
- Emergency and Health-Related Financial Supportmethodology: housing_firstBy providing targeted financial relief during disasters and health crises, the AFM maintains professional continuity for musicians, because temporary income loss from external shocks can lead to permanent exit from the profession without intervention.
- Union-Led Enforcement of Workplace Standardsmethodology: code-of-conduct_enforcementBy enforcing a union-wide Code of Conduct and promoting collective responsibility to report discrimination, the AFM improves workplace safety and equity, because peer accountability and formal policies together deter harassment and institutionalize inclusive norms.