AFTRA

AFTRA represents thousands of talented solo and group recording artists and session singers working in all genres of music and recorded entertainment. Most record companies, including the major labels, are signed to the AFTRA Sound Recordings Code, the collective bargaining agreement covering recorded vocalists.

AFTRA works to protect the interests of royalty artists and other performers. Due to the complexity of federal copyright legislation, industry business practices, and the rapid evolution of technology, artists' interests can only be properly protected through vigorous and coordinated efforts in three important battlegrounds -- legislative, judicial and collective bargaining.

IF YOU HAVE WORKED AS A SINGER ON A RECORDING UNDER THE AFTRA SOUND RECORDINGS CONTRACT AT ANY TIME SINCE 2003 – THIS NOTICE IS FOR YOU! Click here>>

AFTRA Artist Assistance Hotline: 1-866-912-3872 (91AFTRA)
Announcing AFTRA's new Artist Assistance Hotline. This hotline is for use only by AFTRA royalty artists and/or their representatives for assistance or direction with any royalty artist-related issues. The hotline will have staff available from 6:00 a.m. PT/9 a.m. ET to 5:30 PT/8:30 ET. Just another improved service benefit to our AFTRA members in sound recordings!

STOP! Initiative - In October 2004, the federal government launched the STOP! (Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy) Initiative -- a comprehensive Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) initiative that has elevated cooperation between the federal government, the private sector, and many of our trading partners in an aggressive, unified effort against piracy and IPR theft. The STOP! Initiative is designed to crack down on the criminal networks that traffic in counterfeit and pirated products, stop trade in these goods around the globe and at America's borders, and help American businesses and creators secure and enforce their rights in overseas markets. Click here to find out more>>

AFTRA Joins Music Community Leaders at Policy Summit. Community to Congress: Content Protection a Must for New Digital Radio Distribution Services. Click here to read the press release>>

AFTRA Applauds Introduction of New Payola Bill. Press Release>>

November 2005 - Attention Royalty Recording Artists -- Moore Class Action Settlement News. Click here for details>>

November 2005 - SoundExchange Files Direct Case Requesting Market-Based Webcasting Royalty Rates. Press Release>>

October 2005 - Historic Latin GRAMMY Awards in Spanish-Language Premiere on Univision under Industry-Standards Contract. Telemundo Remains Uncompromising. Press Release>>

September 2005 - AFTRA Takes Key Role in First-Ever "Recording Arts Day" on Capitol Hill. Press Release>>

July 2005 - Sony Settles Payola Investigation. Company Acknowledges Problems; Agrees to Sweeping Reforms. Click here to read the New York State Attorney General Press Release>>

June 2005 - Creative Community Praises Supreme Court Decision in Grokster Case.nbsp; In a decision announced June 27, 2005, the Unites States Supreme Court overturned the ruling of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of the plaintiffs in the case of MGM, et al, vs. Grokster, Ltd., et al. Click here to to read the Press Release>>

April 2005 - House Members Announce the Formation of the "Future of American Media" Caucus. The FAM Caucus will provide a venue where reasoned debate, expert analysis, and diverse points of view can come together to address critical media policy issues. Click here for details>>

March 30, 2005 - AFTRA Supports Copyright Protections for Performers and Recording Artists. AFTRA President John Connolly issued the following statement regarding the Grokster case being argued before the Supreme Court: "The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists believes that the unauthorized file-swapping of copyrighted material threatens not just the ability of individual performers and recording artists to make a living, but also the very environment in which creativity and artistic expression thrive. In the Grokster case, we look to the courts to ensure that advances in technology serve to enhance and promote, rather than undermine, the vibrant and diverse cultural and artistic traditions of this country."

March 2005 - AFTRA Files Amici Brief in Second Circuit to Uphold Anti-Bootlegging Statute. Click here for details>>

March 2005 - AFTRA Requests the Copyright Office Examine the Issue of Out-of-Print Sound Recording Copyrights. Click here for details>>

Billboard Article: "Funds Seeking Sidemen; Royalties for Nonfeatured Artists Waiting to be Claimed." The Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund is the only U.S. body that distributes royalties to session players and and background singers. © 2004 VNU Business Media, Inc. Used with Permission from Billboard. Click here to read the article>>

Entertainment Unions File Joint Statement: Internet Piracy Hurts Individual Creators, not Just "Industries." Read the press release>> Read the amicus brief>>

AFTRA, The American Federation of Musicians, Future of Music Coalition, Recording Academy and Recording Artists' Coalition File Joint Reply Comments with the FCC on the Issue of Localism, including issues of local programming and access to radio, the impact of "pay for play" business practices, and the domination of centralized programming which allows progamming to appear to be local through devices such as voicetracking. Click here to read the Comments (pdf) in their entirety>>

The Pew Internet & American Life Project releases study on "Artists, Musicians and the Internet," December 5, 2004. The study - which includes the results of an online survey posted on the AFTRA website earlier this year - analyzes surveys assessing how artists and musicians use the internet, what they think about copyright issues, and how they feel about online file-sharing. Read the study>>

The AFM/AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund, SoundExchange and the Alliance of Artists and Record Companies ("AARC") all made distributions to recording artists this November, for a total of more than 3 ½ million dollars distributed to recording artists. More info>>

Washington, D.C., August 2, 2004 - Artist Groups and Unions File Joint Reply Comments on Transition to Digital Audio Broadcasting at FCC. Groups call on Commission to protect fair compensation for the creative music professionals who provide the backbone of the broadcast industry.
     . click here to read the full press release>>
     . click here to read the reply comments in their entirety>>

Washington, D.C., July 15, 2004. AFTRA Asks Congress for Performance Right for Sound Recordings. AFTRA , AFM, FMC and FAC submit testimony to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property at Oversight Hearing on Internet Streaming of Radio Broadcasts: Balancing the Interests of Sound Recording Copyright Owners with those of Broadcasters. click here to read the testimony>>

Governor Signs California Bill (SB 1034) Setting Out Recording Artists' Right to Audit Record Labels.    more info>>
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AFTRA Hails $50 Million Royalty Payout to Recording Artists
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Senator Feingold Urges FCC to Investigate Payola
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2003 - agreement ratified by members