In mid-May, something remarkable happened in the United States, which was almost lost amid major headlines, such as reports of new tariffs on Chinese goods, debates about abortion rights, and reports of right-wing extremism in the US election campaign.
The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) publicly took a stand against President Trump, for the first time explicitly defending two of its members—Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen—against personal attacks by the president.
What happened? Donald Trump once again disparaged Taylor Swift on his platform Truth Social and called Bruce Springsteen “dumb as a rock.” Both musicians are longtime critics of Trump and are openly politically active.
The AFM responded promptly: President Tino Gagliardi made it clear that the union would not stay silent when its members are publicly attacked. He emphasized the importance of Springsteen and Swift as role models and highlighted the value of freedom of expression for all musicians.
This step is remarkable because the AFM has never before publicly criticized a sitting president for personal attacks on individual members. Although the AFM has always been politically active—for example, on issues of labor rights and subsidies—this explicit solidarity with individual artists is a first.
What does this mean for us in Switzerland? Fortunately, local unions such as SONART or SMV have never had to take a similar stance. Nevertheless, the case shows how important it is to have strong representation.
Unions advocate for the interests of musicians throughout Switzerland, regardless of genre or career stage. The association offers advice, workshops, and advocates for fair conditions in cultural policy. In a rapidly changing music market, we need a voice that unites our interests and represents them to politicians and event organizers.
Being a member of a union means support, access to professional services, and being part of a supportive community. This is more important today than ever—even if, fortunately, we are still miles away from the situation in the United States.