SAG-AFTRA Members Ratify 2024 Sound Recordings Code Contract

In national voting completed today, members of SAG-AFTRA ratified the 2024 Sound Recordings Code with the leading record labels - Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Disney Music Group and most of their subsidiary labels. Members approved the new contract which covers the period from Jan. 1, 2021, through Dec. 31, 2026 with a vote of 97.69% to 2.31%.

"Singers and recording artists have a profound impact on our culture, and I'm thrilled that they've achieved a contract that not only recognizes their value with significant wage increases, but also provides them essential protections around artificial intelligence," said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher. "We celebrate our human performers! I applaud the negotiating committee and staff, the record labels, and SAG-AFTRA members for getting this contract across the finish line!"

SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said, "This contract secures groundbreaking A.I. guardrails while also achieving crucial and substantial wage increases, and other key wins for singers and recording artists. Protecting human artistry will always be SAG-AFTRA's priority, and I'm heartened that our members have a contract that provides immediate gains and recognizes the importance of human contributions to the industry. I also want to acknowledge Negotiating Committee Chair Dan Navarro and the entire committee and staff for their outstanding and dedicated work in achieving this agreement."

The contract's artificial intelligence guardrails take effect immediately: the terms "artist," "singer" and "royalty artist" under this agreement only include humans; and clear and conspicuous consent, along with minimum compensation requirements and specific details of intended use, are required prior to the release of a sound recording that uses a digital replication of an artist's voice. Other gains include increased minimums - a compounded total wage increase of 26.3% over the term - health and retirement improvements, including a general contribution rate increase and an increase in the percentage of streaming revenue to be covered by contributions, which will reach 100% on Dec. 31, 2026.

For a full list of provisions achieved, please see the summary.

Sound Recordings Code Negotiating Committee Chair Dan Navarro said, "Members' feedback played a key role in the formation of this contract and the negotiating committee prioritized the concerns that were most crucial to the singers and recording artists impacted by these terms. We're proud to have achieved these essential wins in A.I. protections along with substantial wage increases and gains in health and retirement funding."

Votes were submitted online and by mail-in ballot, with the deadline of today, April 30, 2024, at 5 p.m. PDT. The final vote was certified by Integrity Voting Systems, an impartial election service based in Everett, Washington.