AFM Ratifies Deal With AI Protections and Streaming Residuals
variety.comGene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The American Federation of Musicians has voted to ratify its new contract with the major studios, which provides for streaming residuals and protections from artificial intelligence.
The union represents musicians who perform on TV and movie scores or who appear on screen. Following 12 days of negotiations in January and February, it reached a tentative deal on Feb.
23. The agreement largely tracks with the provisions won by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA during their strikes last year. “This agreement is a monumental victory for musicians who have long been under-compensated for their work in the digital age,” said Tino Gagliardi, the union’s international president, in a statement.
On AI, the union got a stipulation that musicians are human beings. The agreement allows AI to be used to generate a musical performance, with payment to musicians whose work is used to prompt the AI system. “AI will be another tool in the toolbox for the artistic vision of composers, and musicians will still be employed,” said Marc Sazer, vice president of AFM Local 47, in an interview. “They cannot produce a score without at least a human being.” The AI agreement builds on a prior agreement for “electronic multi-tracking,” which provides for higher rates for synth musicians who perform multiple instrument tracks.
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