AFTRA launches tracks contract talks

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists has released discussions using the major record labels on the successor agreement towards the seem tracks contract.AFTRA introduced Tuesday the opening round occured in New You are able to City between its seem tracks settling committee and reps from The new sony, UMG, Warner, EMI, Disney and many of the subsidiary labels. AFTRA National Executive Director Kim Roberts Hedgpeth is chief negotiator.The seem tracks pact expires 12 ,. 31 so they cover performers, royalty and non-royalty artists, announcers, stars, comics, narrators and seem effects artists who focus on tracks in most new and traditional media and all sorts of music formats, additionally to audio books, comedy albums and cast albums. Anything creates a lot more than $140 million yearly in earnings and benefits for artists and session performers.AFTRA had introduced recently it would launch the talks now after its national board approved its package of plans on This summer 20. The union stated Tuesday that discussions are required to carry on through this month with negotiating periods both in New You are able to and La.The present contract was discussed in 2007 having a June 2010 expiration however the pact was extended by 18 several weeks. That extension deliver to a rise in the labels' contributions towards the AFTRA Health insurance and Retirement Funds "enhanced communications" between AFTRA and also the record labels to see recently signed royalty artists of the guaranteed medical health insurance benefits and AFTRA member services re-determining the size of a "side" or perhaps a recorded song from three 1/two to four 1/2 minutes and development of the AFTRA/Recording Industry Committee to solve contractual issues.A start date for that network code talks is not set with this pact -- AFTRA's biggest contract with more than $400 million in annual earnings -- expiring November. 15. The internet code covers work outdoors primetime and includes "Hello America," "The Vista,Inch "The Cost is appropriate,Inch "Times of Our Way Of Life,Inch "Saturday Evening Live," "Dwts,Inch "The American Idol Show,Inch "Monday Evening Football," "Survivor," "20/20," "Deal or No Deal" and "The Late Show with David Letterman." Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com