SAG-AFTRA & Major Labels Create First Industrywide Contract For Music Video Performers
In a first for the music industry, SAG-AFTRA and the major labels have reached a tentative agreement regarding an "industrywide contract to cover dancers and other performers on music videos." Dancers took the lead in this campaign which also covers choreographers and assistant choreographers. The agreement will now be considered by the SAG-AFTRA National Board.
Negotiations for the tentative agreement covering performers in music videos began in June 2011 and resolved on the morning of June 1, 2012 with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, EMI Music and The Walt Disney Co.
Dancers and choreographers involved in the campaign included SAG-AFTRA Board members Bobbie Bates, Sharon Ferguson and Galen Hooks. Hooks, a dancer and negotiating committee member, stated:
"This agreement is revolutionary for the dance community. For the first time, we have nationwide guarantees for health and retirement benefits for performers, choreographers and assistant choreographers, as well as guaranteed fair pay, safe working conditions and reuse fees."
Contract Highlights:
- Minimum daily rate for dancers
- Contract covers all videos produced by any production company producing music videos on behalf of the labels
- A 12.5-percent contribution to AFTRA H&R for all covered performers
- Guaranteed production conditions, including water, toilets, chairs and shelters
- A binding grievance and arbitration process
- Union access to auditions, rehearsals and productions
- Improved audition conditions, including notification to performers (or their representatives) of start times; individual audition times no longer than four hours; suitable shelter provided during auditions; scale paid if audition footage is used in a music video and re-use of audition footage is paid pursuant to a re-use agreement
- 12-hour rest periods between call times, including rehearsals, makeup and wardrobe
- Safety protections and additional compensation for hazardous performances
- Wardrobe allowance
- Agreement to form a joint labor-management committee to work together to resolve issues as they arise and to assess employment patterns and other matters over the term of the contract
This is SAG-AFTRA's first major contract since the recent merger of SAG and AFTRA.
Hypebot Senior Contributor Clyde Smith blogs about business at Flux Research: Business Changes and about dance at All World Dance: News. To suggest topics for Hypebot, contact: clyde(at)fluxresearch(dot)com.
