Welcome, and thank you for your interest in the Milwaukee Musicians’ Association, also known as Local 8 of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada. The AFM is the largest organization in the world dedicated to representing the interests of professional musicians. Local 8 represents the finest professional musicians in southeastern Wisconsin.
Celebrating a special event? If you want the energy, excitement and emotion that will make your occasion memorable, then live music is your best choice. Members of Local 8 are the region’s finest musicians. Our gifted musicians perform all styles of music and can work with you to choose the right music for your celebration. Give us a try by clicking the Referral Service tab.
AFM members, who number over 90,000, perform all styles of music—alternative rock, classical, pop, gospel, jazz, country, folk, rock, big band, reggae, contemporary Christian, etc.. With such active members as Bruce Springsteen, Roberta Flack, Santana, Yo-Yo Ma, Sheila E, Suzanne Vega, The Goo Goo Dolls, Willie Nelson, and Branford Marsalis, there is a strong representation of major recording individuals and groups.
The AFM has been promoting and protecting professional musicians for almost 120 years. Local 8 has been serving Milwaukee area musicians since 1896 and continues to be an effective advocate for musicians’ rights in the workplace (be that a nightclub, a symphony stage, in a recording studio, or on tour). The AFM and Local 8 protect the recorded works musicians produce from being exploited, and protect our members’ live performances by providing several types of benefit programs that help them to build successful careers.
Members of Local 8 are secure in knowing that their organization is actively lobbying to promote legislation and public awareness that protects musicians’ interests, negotiating collective bargaining agreements with the recording industry, motion picture industry, jingle industry, TV networks, National Public TV and Radio, and providing excellent wages and working conditions for its members. We have collective bargaining agreements with the following local employers: Broadway Across America, Milwaukee Ballet, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and Skylight Music Theatre.