SAG-AFTRA members voted unanimously to ratify the 2024 Sound Recording Code with major record labels, approving new agreements with breakthrough AI protections and compound wage increases.
The national voting will be completed on April 30th, and SAG-AFTRA members will select the 2024 Sound Project with major labels such as Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Disney Music Group. 97.69% voted in favor of ratifying the Recording Code. subsidiary label. The new contract period is from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2026.
Central to the new agreement are artificial intelligence guardrails, effective immediately. In this agreement, the terms “artist,” “singer,” and “royalty artist” include only human beings, and require minimum compensation requirements and specific details of intended use before the release of a sound recording. and “clear and conspicuous consent” is obtained. Use a digital reproduction of the artist's voice.
Other changes include an increase in the minimum wage, resulting in a compounded total wage increase of 26.3% over the period. It also includes health and retirement improvements, including an increase in the general contribution rate and an increase in the percentage of streaming revenue covered by contributions, which is expected to reach 100% by the end of the period on December 31, 2026.
“Singers and recording artists have a huge impact on our culture, and we are thrilled to have achieved an agreement that not only recognizes their value with significant pay increases, but also provides essential protections around artificial intelligence. ,” SAG said. AFTRA Chairman Fran Drescher. “We celebrate the human performer! We applaud the negotiating committee, staff, record company, and SAG-AFTRA members for getting this deal to the finish line.”
“This agreement secures groundbreaking AI guardrails while achieving important and substantial pay increases and other important wins for singers and recording artists,” said Duncan, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator. Crabtree-Ireland added.
“Protecting human artistry has always been a priority at SAG-AFTRA, and we are proud that our members have contracts that provide immediate benefits and recognize the importance of human contributions to our industry. I am very encouraged,” continued Crabtree-Ireland. “I also want to thank Negotiating Chair Dan Navarro and the entire committee and staff for their outstanding and dedicated work in achieving this agreement.”
Dan Navarro, Chairman of the Sound Recording Code Negotiating Committee, said, “Member feedback played a critical role in the finalization of this agreement, and the Negotiating Committee is committed to providing the most important information for singers and recording artists affected by these terms. “I prioritized my concerns,” he concluded. We are proud to have achieved these important wins in AI protection, along with significant wage increases and increased health and retirement benefits. ”