Musicians Union Local 6

What Musicians Union Local 6 does

Musicians Union Local 6 is a chartered local of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) representing professional musicians and vocalists across 17 counties in the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. Founded in 1885, the union negotiates and enforces collective bargaining agreements with more than 40 Bay Area performing arts employers, including the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Ballet, Oakland Symphony, California Symphony, Marin Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, American Conservatory Theater, and BroadwaySF. Local 6 operates under the governance of the AFM constitution with elected officers (President, Secretary-Treasurer) and a Board of Directors; current executive leadership is President Kale Cumings and Secretary-Treasurer Beth Zare (appointed January 1, 2014). The union has no parent corporation or external shareholders, and has undergone two major mergers: Local 669 in 1960 (court-ordered under California's Fair Employment Practice Act) and Local 153 (San Jose) in December 2013.

The organization's product portfolio is service-based rather than technology-based. Core member offerings include negotiated CBA wage scales, AFM Employers Pension Fund contributions (vesting after 5 years of contributions on $3,000+ earned wages), group health and dental insurance through Kaiser, Cigna, and Premier Access with guaranteed acceptance, $2,000 death benefit insurance, free legal consultation on labor matters, pre-printed legal contracts enforced by union attorneys, and access to the AFM TEMPO Fund political action committee. Local 6 also operates physical assets: the Earl Watkins Rehearsal Hall (available free to members for special shows) and the Patrick Simms Recording Studio (24-track digital recording with Pro Tools, member-discounted rates). Active organizing programs include 'No Play for No Pay' and the 'Fair Play Initiative,' which extend CBA protections to unorganized Bay Area freelance musicians. There is no proprietary technology stack—digital infrastructure consists of a standard website, member portal, and basic accounting/payment tools.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring quarterly membership dues, with tiered pricing from $25.25 to $52.50 per quarter depending on tenure and age (regular, 35-year, over 70, life, and youth members). New members pay a $175 initiation fee ($110 Local 6 + $65 Federation), though youth members under 21 have initiation fees fully waived. Supplemental revenue comes from facility rental fees, recording studio services, branded merchandise (t-shirts, caps, CDs, cassettes), and a member directory (free digital, $15 print). The union is a non-profit organization and does not have venture capital, private equity, or institutional investment. Membership-based growth is driven through community organizing, workshops, and grassroots campaigns rather than paid marketing.

Name

Musicians Union Local 6

Legal name

Musicians Union Local 6

Website

https://afm6.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1885

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Musicians Union Local 6 is a chartered AFM labor union representing professional musicians across 17 Northern California counties. It negotiates 40+ collective bargaining agreements with Bay Area performing arts employers and provides members with dues-based benefits including pension, health insurance, legal services, and rehearsal facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The primary revenue stream comes from quarterly membership dues paid by professional musicians. Dues vary by member tier (regular, 35-year, over 70, youth, life members) ranging from $25.25 to $52.50 per quarter. Initiation fees of $175 total ($110 Local 6 + $65 Federation) apply for new members.
2. Facility Rentals: Revenue generated from renting the Earl Watkins Rehearsal Hall to members in good standing and organizations with CBA agreements with Local 6.
3. Recording Studio Services: The Local 6 / Patrick Simms Recording Studio offers 24-track digital recording, Pro Tools, and complete recording services at discounted rates for members.
4. Member Merchandise: Sale of Local 6 merchandise including membership directories ($15 for print, free digital), t-shirts ($15), caps ($20), and CDs/cassettes from member recordings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Musicians Union Local 6 is a chartered local labor union of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) representing professional musicians in 17 Northern California counties. It provides collective bargaining, contract enforcement, pension and health benefits, legal representation, and member services including rehearsal hall and recording studio access. Membership is funded by quarterly dues, with separate CBA negotiations conducted with Bay Area performing arts employers.

Product overview

Musicians Union Local 6 is a labor union offering membership-based services rather than a unified technology product. The portfolio consists of member services including a Membership Directory (digital free/download, print $15), a CD Store for member recordings ($16 CDs, $11 cassettes), branded merchandise (T-shirts $15, Caps $20), and facilities including the Earl Watkins Rehearsal Hall and Patrick Simms Recording Studio (24-track digital, Pro Tools). Core member benefits include Collective Bargaining Agreements with 40+ Bay Area employers, Health & Dental Insurance through Kaiser, Cigna, and Premier Access Dental, Pre-Printed Legal Contracts, Emergency Relief programs, and Professional Publications (AFM International Musician and Local 6 Musical News).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Collective Bargaining Agreements Locally negotiated collective bargaining agreements covering wages, working conditions, and pension contributions with more than 40 Bay Area performing arts employers including the San Francisco Symphony, Opera, Ballet, and major theaters. Provides binding protections for working musicians and employer-paid benefits.
• Health & Dental Insurance (Self-Pay) Group health and dental insurance available to Local 6 members through an arrangement with French Cormany Insurance Services, offering self-pay plans including Kaiser (HMO), Cigna (HMO and PPO), and Premier Access Dental (HMO and PPO). Plans offer guaranteed acceptance and coverage for pre-existing conditions.
• Pre-Printed Legal Contracts Free legal contracts suitable for all types of musical engagements with appropriate dispute resolution language. When properly signed and filed, they are enforced by the union and its attorneys.
• Emergency Relief Emergency financial assistance and relief programs for members impacted by natural disasters including the LA wildfires, including AFM Emergency Relief Fund, Union Plus Disaster Relief Grants, and MusiCares West Region assistance.
• Local 6 / Patrick Simms Recording Studio 24-track digital recording studio with Pro Tools, large comfortable live room, experienced engineer, complete recording services, remote recording available. Special low rate for members. Contact (415) 373-8874.
• Earl Watkins Rehearsal Hall Rehearsal hall available free of charge for member special shows. Members in good standing or those with CBA agreements can book the hall.
• Professional Publications Members receive the AFM International Musician magazine and the Local 6 Musical News newsletter, keeping members abreast of union business, job openings, auditions, events, and articles of interest.
• Membership Directory Directory of all members including address, phone, e-mail, and instruments played. Digital copies are free to download; print directories cost $15 to cover shipping.
• CD Store Online store featuring member-produced CDs ($16 each) and cassettes ($11 each) across genres including Blues/Funk, Classical, Jazz, Reggae, Rock/Pop, and World/Other.
• Local 6 T-Shirt Official Local 6 branded t-shirt available in multiple sizes for $15 with free US shipping.
• Local 6 Caps Official Local 6 branded caps available for $20.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pension vesting requires contributions on $3,000 of earned wages in each of 5 consecutive years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jazz in the NeighborhoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization bringing emerging young performers and local jazz artists together in alternative neighborhood venues. Collaborated with Local 6 on 40 concerts in Rendon Hall in Berkeley. Local 6 underwrote a portion of expenses. Five jazz musicians on their roster joined the union as a result of this collaboration. Jointly presenting concerts under union conditions.
• French Cormany Insurance Services, InccoreOthersInsurance broker based in Irvine, California facilitating group health and dental insurance plans (Kaiser, Cigna, Premier Access Dental) for Local 6 members through an arrangement offering self-pay, guaranteed acceptance coverage.
• Seabury & SmithminorOthersAFM Insurance provider offering equipment insurance, liability insurance, and other member benefit programs through Personal Plans.
• Actors Federal Credit UnionminorOthersCredit union available to Local 6 members providing financial services and member discounts through Union Plus program.
• Sea West Coast Guard Federal Credit UnionminorOthersCredit union available to Local 6 members providing financial services through Union Plus program.
• Union PlusminorOthersUnion-affiliated discount program providing members and their families with money-saving benefits including flowers, travel, wireless service, movie tickets, legal consultations (30-minute free initial consultation, 30% discount on additional services), and disaster relief grants.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees): Labor union representing behind-the-scenes entertainment workers (stagehands, technicians, etc.) at the same theaters, concert halls, and performing arts venues where Local 6 musicians perform. Adjacent peer with overlapping employer relationships.
• SAG-AFTRA: The largest performing arts union in the U.S., representing actors, recording artists, and broadcast professionals. Compares as a broader performing arts union providing collective bargaining and member benefits to a much larger membership base.
• Actors' Equity Association: The labor union for stage managers and live theatrical actors in the U.S. Operates a similar collective bargaining model for performing artists and represents many of the same theater employers that Local 6 negotiates musician CBAs with.

Regional players

• SEIU Local 1: Midwest-based service employees union where Local 6's current Organizer (Kevin McEntee) previously worked. Relevant as a labor organizing peer demonstrating the cross-union career pipeline of Local 6 staff.
• American Federation of Teachers Local 2121 (City College of San Francisco): Bay Area union representing City College faculty, where Local 6's current Organizer previously organized before joining Local 6. Demonstrates the local labor organizing ecosystem and potential cross-organization referral pathways.

Direct peers

• American Federation of Musicians Local 802 (New York): New York City AFM local representing professional musicians across all genres. Comparable as a chartered AFM local providing collective bargaining, health/pension benefits, and member services — the East Coast equivalent of Local 6.
• American Federation of Musicians Local 47 (Los Angeles): The largest AFM local in the U.S., representing professional musicians in Los Angeles. Operates the same union model (collective bargaining, dues, member benefits) under the same AFM federation as Local 6, serving as the most direct functional peer.
• American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA): Labor union representing opera, choral, and orchestral singers and stage managers at major U.S. institutions. Directly competes with Local 6 for representation of opera and ballet orchestra musicians in the Bay Area, making it a direct competing peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/afm6
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/musicians-local-6

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Musicians Union Local 6