American Federation of Musicians Local 47

What American Federation of Musicians Local 47 does

American Federation of Musicians Local 47 (AFM 47) is a nonprofit labor union representing nearly 5,000 professional musicians in the Los Angeles area, founded in 1896 and operating from its headquarters at 3220 Winona Avenue in Burbank, California. The union is a local chapter of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO and Change to Win Federation. AFM 47 negotiates and enforces collective bargaining agreements covering recording sessions, motion picture and television scoring, live performance, electronic media, and dance — including successor agreements with the Los Angeles Ballet Orchestra ratified in December 2025. The organization provides member services including the Health & Welfare Fund (eligibility at approximately $700 in contributions), pension accrual, the AFM Entertainment Referral Service, rehearsal rooms, a recording studio, a member directory, an emergency Relief Fund, and a Political Action Committee.

The union's primary revenue stream is recurring monthly membership dues, which were increased for 2026 as approved at the July 2025 General Membership Meeting; an ancillary revenue stream comes from building operations (rehearsal room rentals, parking, studio use, and tenant agreements) contributing approximately $80,000 annually with projections approaching $200,000. Distribution and member engagement are conducted through the Burbank headquarters, the cloud-based Ensemble 2.0 member portal, the 47 Blog, the monthly Overture E-Magazine, social media channels, and community events. AFM 47 is currently a plaintiff in federal litigation against Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group over AI training licensing deals, and is coordinating cross-city protests with the Music Workers Alliance and its Independent Musicians Caucus — positioning the union at the center of the music industry's most consequential emerging labor dispute.

Name

American Federation of Musicians Local 47

Legal name

American Federation of Musicians Local 47 AFL-CIO/CLC

Website

https://afm47.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1896

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AFM Local 47 is a nonprofit labor union representing nearly 5,000 professional musicians in the Los Angeles area, negotiating collective bargaining agreements, providing healthcare and pension benefits, and currently litigating against major labels over AI licensing deals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Musicians Labor Union Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Sound Recording Studios (512240), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (711410)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Crew & Labor Services (Production Staff, Unions, Payroll) (MPADAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sync Licensing Agencies & Representatives (MPAIALAA), Sync Rights Representation (Pitching, Clearance, Negotiation) (MPAIABAF)

Keywords

• Musicians labor union
• Collective bargaining agreements
• Wage scale protections
• Musician health benefits
• Entertainment referral services

Headquarters

HQ city

Burbank

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Union membership dues that increased for 2026 as approved by the membership at the July 2025 General Membership Meeting
2. Building Operations Revenue: Revenue from rehearsal room rentals, expanded parking income, studio activity, and new tenant agreements; building revenue has increased by approximately $80,000 annually with projections approaching roughly $200,000 a year

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AFM Local 47 is a labor union representing nearly 5,000 professional musicians in the Los Angeles area. It negotiates and enforces collective bargaining agreements covering recording, live performance, motion picture/TV scoring, and other music work; provides members with access to the Health & Welfare Fund, pension contributions, an Entertainment Referral Service, rehearsal rooms, relief programs, and political advocacy on issues such as AI licensing.

Product overview

AFM Local 47 operates as a labor union providing professional services to nearly 5,000 musicians in the Los Angeles area. The organization's offerings center on member support services including the Health & Welfare Fund (providing accessible health insurance), AFM Entertainment Referral Service (job placement), Music Performance Trust Fund (sponsoring free public concerts), rehearsal rooms and recording studio facilities, the monthly Overture E-Magazine publication, a member directory, Political Action Committee advocacy, Relief Fund emergency assistance, and an Electronic Media Division managing contracts across jingles, film/TV, sound recording, and television sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Health & Welfare Fund Health insurance program providing coverage eligibility for AFM Local 47 working musicians, with contributions as low as approximately $700. Considered one of the most accessible musician health plans in the AFM.
• AFM Entertainment Referral Service Referral service that connects AFM Local 47 musicians with job opportunities and gig referrals across the Los Angeles area entertainment industry.
• Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) Sponsors free, live public concerts, providing AFM musicians with paid performance opportunities and supporting music education in communities.
• Rehearsal Rooms Professional rehearsal facilities at the Burbank location available for ensemble run-throughs, private teaching, tutoring, sectional rehearsals, audition prep, and master classes.
• Relief Fund Emergency financial assistance program for AFM Local 47 members facing hardship or crisis situations.
• Electronic Media Division Department that handles collective bargaining contracts and negotiations for jingles/commercials, motion picture and television film, sound recording, and TV/videotape work on behalf of AFM Local 47 members.
• Member Directory Searchable database of AFM Local 47 members enabling networking and business connections among professional musicians in the Los Angeles area.
• Political Action Committee (PAC) Advocacy fund supporting legislative and public policy initiatives affecting musicians, the music industry, and broader labor issues at the state and federal levels.
• Wage Scale Contracts Collective bargaining agreements that establish minimum wage scales, working conditions, residuals, and protections for musicians across recording, live performance, film/TV, and other engagements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Musicians become eligible for health insurance with approximately $700 in contributions

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Music Workers AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Activist organization collaborating with AFM Local 47's Independent Musicians Caucus to organize protests against major label AI deals. Groups are coordinating protests on May 19th in New York, Los Angeles, and Austin targeting Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group headquarters.
• Austin Texas Musicians AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Local musicians association partnering with Music Workers Alliance and Independent Musicians Caucus to organize protests against major label AI licensing deals. Coordinating cross-city demonstrations on May 19th.
• Independent Musicians Caucus of the AFMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026AFM subgroup organizing protests against potential AI licensing deals, demanding labels not license music to AI companies using unlicensed training data, that musicians retain individual consent rights, and full financial transparency on AI deals.
• Black Orchestral Network (BON)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Released third call to action urging American orchestras and funders to restructure diversity fellowship programs. Their advocacy work has led to Model Standards adopted by orchestras including New York Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Seattle Symphony, and Detroit Symphony.
• Los Angeles BalletcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 December 2025Successfully negotiated and ratified a new successor collective bargaining agreement with AFM 47 on December 27, 2025, following a successful Nutcracker run at the Dolby Theatre.
• LA County Federation of LaborcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresents 800,000 union members in the Los Angeles region, including AFM Local 47. Sponsors the MLK Jr. Kingdom Day Parade and provides labor solidarity support.
• Union PlusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership providing discount programs to AFM Local 47 members through the Union Plus program.
• Recording Musicians Association (RMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecording musicians' advocacy organization led by President Allen Fogle. Partners with AFM on Sound Recording Labor Agreement negotiations and represents recording musicians' interests.
• The Broadway LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade organization representing Broadway producers. Negotiated tentative three-year agreement with Broadway actors to avert strike affecting 32 stage productions, with ongoing negotiations with Broadway musicians.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• American Federation of Musicians Local 802 (NYC): Sister AFM local for professional musicians in New York City. Operates the same union model (dues, CBA negotiation, Health & Welfare, referral service) under the same parent federation, but serves a different regional membership base centered on Broadway, recording studios, and media in NYC.
• AFM Local 6 (San Francisco): Sister AFM local covering professional musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area. Same parent federation and operating model as Local 47; serves a different regional market with comparable classical, recording, and live work.
• Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM): National federation of musician locals in Canada affiliated with AFM. Comparable mission, CBA structure, and member services, but operates across Canadian provinces rather than the LA market.

Direct peers

• American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA): National labor union representing singers, dancers, and stage managers in opera, ballet, choral, and concert work. Directly comparable as a specialized musicians' union with a similar collective bargaining, wage scale, and member-services model.

Broad incumbents

• SAG-AFTRA: Large entertainment union for actors, broadcasters, and recording artists. Overlaps with Local 47 on recording/performer contracts (AFTRA historically negotiated recording agreements) and shares Hollywood bargaining terrain, but operates at much broader scale.
• IATSE: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees — broad entertainment union covering behind-the-scenes film/TV/theater crew. Comparable labor model and Hollywood bargaining footprint, but for crew rather than musicians specifically.
• Actors' Equity Association: Labor union for stage managers and actors in live theater. Comparable union structure and CBA-driven member services, and a counterpart partner in LA Ballet negotiations; broader than Local 47's musician focus.

Others

• The Recording Academy (GRAMMYs): Industry organization for music professionals including performers, songwriters, and producers. Adjacent ecosystem participant — advocates on recording industry issues and AI policy similar to Local 47, but is not a collective bargaining union.
• American Association of Independent Music (A2IM): Trade organization representing independent music labels. Adjacent industry player engaged in similar AI licensing and rights debates that Local 47 is litigating, but represents label-side rather than musician-side interests.
• Music Workers Alliance: Activist organization that partners with Local 47's Independent Musicians Caucus to coordinate AI-related protests against major labels. Compares as an ecosystem/advocacy counterpart that complements Local 47's collective bargaining with grassroots mobilization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/afmlocal47
• Facebookfacebook.com/afmlocal47
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/professional-musicians-local-47
• Instagraminstagram.com/afmlocal47

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American Federation of Musicians Local 47