Supporting All Professional Musicians on the Central Coast

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in Local 308 of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada. The AFM is the largest labor union in the world dedicated to representing the interests of professional musicians. Local 308 represents many of the finest professional musicians in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. Our Local has been serving Santa Barbara area musicians since 1906 as an effective advocate for musicians’ rights in the workplace – in nightclubs, on symphony stages, in recording studios, and on tour, for example.

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.

Members of Local 308 of the AFM 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.