Musicians working in recording and digital media have joined forces in Local 427-721 and the broader American Federation of Musicians to fight for better pay, improved industry standards, healthcare, and a secure retirement. We perform on recordings in the studio and on recorded live performances. Musicians record radio, TV, and online commercials, film and video game scores, and appear on live and pre-recorded TV.
It’s quite common for musicians to hear their recordings featured in movies or on television. This often raises the question, “Am I entitled to compensation for the use of my music?” The good news is that if you are a union musician, the answer is yes. Musicians who are part of a union contract typically receive “new use” fees, including pension benefits, when their recordings are reused.
“New use,” sometimes called “re-use,” refers to when a recording is used beyond its original purpose. For instance, if music originally recorded for a CD is later featured on a TV show or commercial, it triggers a new use payment. These payments apply to all types of original recorded music, including sound recordings, TV, and film scores.
AFM musicians who file contracts also receive payment when their music is licensed for use in formats beyond its original purpose (e.g., theatrical film scores released to “supplemental markets” like DVD, pay TV, streaming, cable, and in-flight entertainment). Musicians are also compensated when excerpts of their music are used, referred to as “clip use.”
EMSD Resource Center
The EMSD Resource Center will help guide you to the exact information you’re looking for regarding national collective bargaining agreements, including commercials, film and television, internet/streaming, sound recordings, and more.
Sound Recording
Musicians are not alone at the recording studio. The AFM works to protect your wages and subsequent compensation through the Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA), which sets forth the minimum wage scales and working conditions for musicians (including music preparation members) who perform services for the various types of audio recordings released for sale on the commercial market.
It is particularly important to see to it that before any work is performed, there is an SRLA signatory employer in place. After the first recording session with this employer, an AFM B-4 Session Report Form should be completed, detailing each musicians’ participation. After submitting the completed B-4 Session Report to the signatory employer, it will be filed with the AFM Local in whose jurisdiction the session(s) occurred. This will ensure musicians’ further participation in the proceeds from the Sound Recording Special Payments Fund, and that musicians will receive new-use payments if their product is utilized in another medium (i.e. use of a sound recording in a theatrical motion picture, TV film, commercial announcement, etc.).
Other highlights of the Sound Recording Labor Agreement include:
The Low Budget Side Letter (Full album projects where the budget falls within a threshold of $99,000) – Since its inception in 1996 this Side Letter has increased employment opportunities in the recording field. To ensure that projects truly qualify, there is a procedure in place which begins with the requirement of the company to forward to the AFM the producer’s approved, detailed budget in advance of the start of production.
Music Videos – This section covers the employment of musicians, other than royalty artists, who appear “on-camera” in music videos. It includes a wage payment for musicians performing “sideline services”, and generates additional payments into the Sound Recording Special Payments Fund when the Company receives revenue from the exploitation of the video promo.
Sampling – When an existing phonograph record, or portion thereof, is sampled into a new phonograph record, a payment is made to the Sound Recording Special Payments Fund on behalf of the musicians who performed on the original record.
Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA)
SRLA 2017 MOA
SRLA 2023 MOA
SRLA Signatory Packet
Full Term – SRLA Letter of Acceptance
Single Project Short Form
AFM B-4 Report Form – Phonograph Records, Soundtrack Releases and Video Promos –(view an example form)
Video Game Music
AFM Video Game Agreement (“VGA”) Summary
For more information about video games, contact:
John Painting, AFM EMSD Director
New York AFM Headquarters
1501 Broadway, Ninth Floor
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (917) 229-0213
Email: JPainting [at] afm [dot] org
Theatrical Motion Picture & Television Film
The Theatrical Motion Picture and Television Film Agreement established minimum wage scales and working conditions for recording, sideline and music preparation musicians in various film categories. These programs include dramatic, non-dramatic, episodic, made for new media, made for television movies as well as theatrical motion pictures.
It is important that a signatory is in place with the owner and controller of the product prior to the recording session taking place. Additionally, any completed B-7 report forms covering your participation on the project must be filed with the appropriate AFM local. You may be entitled to other payments from the Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund or soundtrack album new-use.
View our MP/TV Film Forms & Scales.
Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) Amending and Extending the AFM Basic Theatrical and Basic Television Motion Picture Agreements, Effective May 1, 2024 – May 1, 2027
The Federation reached an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the major Hollywood-based motion picture producers and their Television Film counterparts, for successor Basic Theatrical and Basic Television Motion Picture Agreements. This Memorandum of Understanding includes wage increases and critical gains in both a primary market streaming residual as well as guardrails surrounding the use of artificial intelligence. It is detailed and specific, and outlines direct language changes intended to be made to the Agreements. Nothing replaces or supersedes the MOU.
MP/TV Film Important Dates for 2024
National Public Television Agreement
Low-Budget Rates
Low-budget rates may be used if the motion picture falls under $45 million for theatrical motion pictures or $5 million per programming hour for television film (basic cable and long form television motion pictures). Since its inception in 1996, these low budget rates have increased employment opportunities in the recording field. In addition, low budget soundtrack albums are often released. Prior written approval of the Federation must be in place to use this portion of the agreement.
For more information on a Theatrical Motion Picture or Television Film low budget package contact:
Matt Allen, AFM EMSD Contract Administrator
AFM West Coast Office
3220 Winona Avenue
Burbank, CA 91504
Phone: (818) 565-3400
Email: MAllen [at] afm [dot] org
Independent & Festival Films
Designed to assist employers, local officers, administrators, as well as rank-and-file musicians, it is our hope that the step-by-step procedures and information found in this packet will help simplify the process of filing new work under AFM contracts.
Independent Festival Film Signatory Packet
For more information on Independent Films/Festival Films and for Low-Budget Approvals, contact:
Matt Allen, AFM EMSD Contract Administrator
AFM West Coast Office
3220 Winona Avenue
Burbank, CA 91504
Phone: (818) 565-3400
Email: MAllen [at] afm [dot] org
Jingles/Commercials
Working on a jingle? The AFM is here to help you secure the best wages and benefits. The union negotiates and administers the Commercial Announcements Agreement to represent musicians recording music for jingles. The AFM collaborates with a broad range of creative advertising agencies and music production companies to ensure this agreement is upheld.
When a musician is hired under a union agreement to record music for a commercial jingle, they will be paid based on a negotiated wage scale, which includes an hourly rate, pension contributions, and health & welfare benefits.
If an original recording is incorporated into a commercial jingle, the musicians who originally performed the piece are entitled to a “new-use” fee. This fee is equivalent to the one-hour minimum call session, along with the pension and health & welfare benefits they would have received if they had recorded the music specifically for the jingle. This “new-use” payment applies to all types of original recorded music, including phonograph records, CDs, film scores, and TV themes.
This packet is designed to assist employers, local officers, administrators, and musicians alike, with step-by-step procedures to simplify the process of filing new work under AFM contracts.
Commercial Announcements Agreement (CAA) Signatory Packet
Commercial Announcements Scale Summary
AFM B-6 Report Form – Television and Radio Commercial Announcements
B-6 Continuation
Assumption Agreement Commercials*
*Used to transfer Union obligations to the entity that will control/air the project. Relieves the original signatory from future re-use obligations.
Resources
International Musician Updates: Electronic Media Services
EMSD Resource Center
Guide to AFM Sound Recording Agreements
Sound Recording Special Payments Fund