AFM Local 1000

04/17/2026

The International Executive Board of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) has recognized the Freelance Musicians Association (FMA) as an official AFM Player Conference with representation at the 103rd AFM Convention in June.

“I am excited to announce the board’s unanimous decision to grant player conference status to the Freelance Musicians Association,” said AFM President Tino Gagliardi. “Freelance musicians are the backbone of our Federation. By formalizing the FMA as a Player Conference, we ensure these members have the structural support necessary to protect their standards and strengthen their voice within our union.”

As a binational body of working musicians, the FMA is dedicated to improving the economic security and professional standing of those in self-directed and multi-employer work. In collaboration with Federation leadership, AFM Locals, and allied organizations, the FMA provides a structured space for coordination, problem-solving, and collective action.

The FMA joins the AFM’s established Player Conferences: the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM), the Regional Orchestra Players’ Association (ROPA), the Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians (OCSM), the Recording Musicians Association (RMA), and the Theater Musicians’ Association (TMA).

Through this recognition, FMA delegates will participate in the 103rd AFM Convention to represent the interests of freelance musicians in the union’s legislative and decision-making processes.

For more information on the FMA, visit: https://afmfreelance.org/

01/09/2026

Local 1000 and Local 802 in the house at a jam session at Somewhere Works in Wichita, KS. Jon Batiste (Local 802) and Aaron Fowler (Local 1000).

01/09/2026

Join us in this campaign.

09/18/2025

Just one of our Local 1000 members here at the Walnut Valley Festival. Elexa Dawson with President Aaron Fowler.

05/24/2025

AFM International President Tino Gagliardi had the pleasure of meeting with senior staff from the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC today. Pictured alongside Andrea Clements, Senior Trade Commissioner, President Gagliardi engaged in discussions about fostering collaborative efforts to support and promote the interests of Canadian musicians.

03/29/2025

Canadian members of the AFM received this email today from AFM's Vice President from Canada:

Important Information Regarding US Artist Visa Applications for Canadian Members

Dear Members,

Dignity is at the heart of what we do and who we are. As musicians, we celebrate and respect the humanity of all people. As one union in two countries, we stand together regardless of gender identity, race, ethnicity, disability, citizenship, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, or national origin. This is the foundation of our mission statement.

Unfortunately, because of recent changes at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), I must speak directly to our Canadian members. The Artist Visa petition requires an applicant to list gender identity, only recognising male or female. Both AFM International President Gagliardi and I agree that this change runs afoul of our shared values. At this time, it is unlikely the US government will pivot from this objectionable position. Our responsibility to our members remains the same.

While the Federation does not approve Visas, nor has the authority to make changes to the USCIS petition requirements, we remain committed to upholding the principles articulated above and will continue to lobby through all appropriate avenues in support of our members and mission.

To make an informed decision, please consider all information available when moving forward with Visa applications.

Allistair Elliott, Vice President from Canada/Director of Canadian Affairs

American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada

Informations importantes concernant les demandes de visa d'artiste américain pour les membres canadiens:

Chers Membres,

La dignité est au cœur de ce que nous faisons et de ce que nous sommes. En tant que musiciens, nous célébrons et respectons l’humanité de chaque individu. En tant qu’union représentant deux pays, nous restons unis, quel que soit l’identité de genre, la race, l’origine ethnique, le handicap, la citoyenneté, l’orientation sexuelle, l’état civil, le statut familial ou l’origine nationale. Ce principe est la base de notre déclaration de mission.

Malheureusement, en raison des récents changements apportés par les Services de citoyenneté et d’immigration des États-Unis (USCIS), je dois m’adresser directement à nos membres canadiens. La demande de visa d’artiste oblige les candidats à déclarer leur identité de genre, en ne reconnaissant que les catégories « homme » ou « femme ». Moi-même et le président international Gagliardi sommes d’accord pour affirmer que ce changement est contraire à nos valeurs communes. À l'heure actuelle, il est peu probable que le gouvernement américain change de position. Notre responsabilité à l'égard de nos membres reste la même.

Bien que la Fédération n’approuve pas le visa et n’ait pas l’autorité de modifier les exigences de la demande de l’USCIS, nous restons déterminés à défendre les principes énoncés ci-dessus et continuerons de plaider par tous les moyens appropriés pour soutenir nos membres et notre mission.
Pour prendre une décision éclairée, veuillez considérer toutes les informations disponibles lorsque vous procédez avec les demandes de visa.

Allistair Elliott, vice-président de l’AFM pour le Canada/Directeur affaires canadiennes

Fédération américaine des musiciens des États-Unis et du Canada

02/20/2025

Coming up Friday morning at the Folk Alliance International conference in Montreal - a Town Hall on the P2 Visa situation, how terrible it is for Canadian musicians touring in the US, and what we can do to change it.

If you are at the conference, please join us!

02/13/2025

Local 1000 will be hosting a Town Hall on the P2 Visa situation at the Folk Alliance International Conference in Montreal next week. Please plan to attend if you are at the conference!

And if you are close by, Folk Alliance is allowing folks to attend who aren't registered for the conference, so please join us too!

Here are the details:

Town Hall Meeting on P2 Visas: Working Towards Parity at the Canada/US Border
Friday, Feb 21 at 10:30 am
Salon ABC - Level B
Le Centre Sheraton Montreal
1201 Boulevard Rene-Levesque West
Montreal, QC

Canada and the US share a 8800 km-long border, and they also share a vibrant folk and roots music scene that isn’t restricted by legal boundaries. But while US musicians can easily cross the border to work and perform in Canada, Canadian musicians who want to perform in the US face a visa process that is time-consuming, expensive, and capricious. Delays in visa processing can lead to cancelled gigs and tours, which is bad for musicians, presenters, agents, and audiences. Local 1000 of the AFM has spearheaded this Town Hall to update artists, agents, presenters and audience members on the current status of the process and of efforts towards changing the process. We will discuss where things stand right now, where we’d like them to end up (total parity for US and Canadian musicians) and how you can become active in the campaign to make change. US musicians are the ones that can and must exert the most pressure on institutions for change. It's critical that they attend this to begin plotting a course forward. It is a simple and essential act of solidarity. There will be time available after the meeting to discuss with Local 1000 and other panelists in the same room.

Panelists:
Cathy Fink, Local 1000
Matthew Covey, Tamizdat/Covey Law
Jennifer Roe, Folk Alliance International
Joy Bennett, Old Songs, Inc.

If you want to be kept up to date on our P2 Visa Action Campaign, please sign our mailing list here:

Canadian musicians who want to perform in the U.S. must apply for a performing visa. It’s a stressful, time consuming, and expensive process. The current cost for one musician to apply for a P2 Visa is US $510 plus CDN $125 for processing. If faster processing is required, there is an additional p...

02/06/2025

Show your Union Card Proud photo!

01/17/2025

Canadian Musicians:

The Local 1000 P2 Visa Action Committee is collecting stories from Canadian musicians about their experiences with the P2 Visa application process.

See the details below, and please send your stories to President Aaron Fowler at [email protected]

Feel free to share this graphic in your networks!

01/07/2025

Our Union dear brother Peter Yarrow has past today. He was a giant in the folk community.

10/12/2024

Thanks Randy for the reminder…

ON THIS DATE (27 YEARS AGO)
John Denver / Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997) died when the light aircraft he was piloting crashed into Monterey Bay, California, aged 53.
Denver died on the afternoon of October 12, 1997, when his light homebuilt aircraft, a Rutan Long-EZ with registration number N555JD, crashed into Monterey Bay near Pacific Grove, California, while making a series of touch-and-go landings at the nearby Monterey Peninsula Airport. He was the plane's only occupant. The official cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma resulting from the crash.
Denver, was a singer-songwriter, actor, activist and humanitarian, whose greatest commercial success was as a solo singer, starting in the 1970s. He was one of the most popular acoustic artists of the decade and one of its best-selling artists.
After traveling and living in numerous locations while growing up in his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. Throughout his life, Denver recorded and released approximately 300 songs, about 200 of which he composed, with total sales of over 33 million.
He recorded and performed primarily with an acoustic guitar and sang about his joy in nature, his enthusiasm for music, and his relationship trials. Denver's music appeared on a variety of charts, including country and western, the Billboard Hot 100, and adult contemporary, in all earning him twelve gold and four platinum albums with his signature songs "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Annie's Song", "Rocky Mountain High", and "Sunshine on My Shoulders".