The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has reached a ‘tentative’ three-year agreement with record labels on a successor contract to the SAG-AFTRA National Code of Fair Practice for Sound Recordings.
The agreement includes annual minimum wage increases, increased contributions to health and retirement plans, including significantly increased contributions on payments related to online streaming of music, and other improvements in economic terms.
Record labels covered by the agreement include Warner Bros. Records, Atlantic Recording Corporation, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group Recordings, Capitol Records and Hollywood Records (Disney).
Negotiations began in LA in April 2018 and continued for two additional sessions over the summer in New York City, before concluding on October 19 in New Orleans.
The new agreement is retroactive effective January, 1, 2018 and expires December 31, 2020.
The tentative agreement is now awaiting approval by SAG-AFTRA’s National Board before being sent to members for ratification.
“This contract achieves important gains for our members in key areas, especially and including our health and retirement plans,” said President Gabrielle Carteris.
“I’m proud of our dedicated negotiating committee, and especially its chair, National VP Recording Artists/Singers Dan Navarro, for their excellent work.”
“This contract achieves important gains for our members in key areas, especially and including our health and retirement plans.”
Gabrielle Carteris, SAG-AFTRA
National Executive Director David White added: “Recognizing key industry trends and focusing on areas that make meaningful impact now and in the future is a hallmark of our collective bargaining, and this agreement is no exception.
“Congratulations to all of our superb negotiating staff and especially our lead negotiator, Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and co-lead negotiator Stefanie Taub.”
“Increased minimums, higher contributions and more money from streaming will benefit all our members.”
Dan Navarro
Chief operating officer and general counsel Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said: “Streaming is the future of music and our negotiating committee has recognized that and made it a top priority for the last several cycles.
“That focus has shown results and will work to the benefit of our members for years to come. I’m particularly grateful to co-lead negotiator Stefanie Taub, whose expertise and knowledge has been essential to our success.”
Dan Navarro said: “A true partnership between our dedicated committee members – made up of professional singers and recording artists – and our hardworking staff has resulted in yet another groundbreaking deal making artists across the spectrum better off.
“Increased minimums, higher contributions and more money from streaming will benefit all our members.”Music Business Worldwide
