Month: May 2025

Jacksonville University has shuttered its Department of Music. While information has not been forthcoming from the institution, rumors are circulating that “industry professionals” will be hired to teach the current students to the completion of their degrees, while eliminating tenured professors of the program. Out of solidarity, we request that AFM members decline any new READ MORE

Last month was the first month of our 2025 membership drive! We welcomed Palm Beach Opera violinist Esther Platt as the first new member during our drive. Musicians can join from now through June with waived initiation fees (a $115 savings). Please help spread the word! President Hawley has been hosting Brews and Bylaws at READ MORE

It’s About Respect Is it art, or is it a business? One of the challenges musicians face is convincing people that music is a business and that we deserve to make a reasonable living for our work. It is not uncommon to hear, “wow, that gig sounds fun, but what do you do for a READ MORE

The Trump Administration has announced an executive order intended to strip collective bargaining rights from nearly a million federal employees. The Executive Order makes use of a provision of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 that the president can limit collective bargaining for those primarily working in sensitive areas such as intelligence or national READ MORE

Jacksonville University will eliminate its music and theater programs in a move to save $10 million. The University states that the programs are undersubscribed or specialized and do not prepare students for the future. Students currently enrolled will be allowed to complete their degrees but the programs will no longer be offered to incoming students. READ MORE

New, Reinstated, and Resigned members for April 2025: New Members: Reinstated Members: Resigned Members: none Deceased Members: none