Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/129167
Dan Navarro Blue Sky Riders Jennifer Warnes What Does the Sound Recordings Department Do? • Collects and distributes conversion fees, the fees for use of a sound recording in another medium, such as theatrical, TV programs and video games. • Collects and distributes contingent scale fees, a payment to singers on successful recordings from the sale of physical product; similar to a residual. • Collects digital download revenues from signatories to the Sound Recordings Code. • Assists artists, managers and business managers with the administration of royalty roster artist guaranteed health coverage. describes it, singing is about more than just entertainment. "he irst thing a baby does when it enters the world is breathe; the last thing a human being does is breathe. he breath is the closest thing we have to life and death," she said. "Part of your job is spiritual. It's fragile and it's magical. hat's why people pay for it." Still, singers oten struggle to gain respect and recognition for what they do. One example is the disparity between songwriters, who do get royalties when songs are played over terrestrial radio, and 28 SAG-AFTRA | Spring 2013 | SAGAFTRA.org • Staff serves as ombudspersons for royalty artists with the AFTRA Health and Retirement Funds. • Provides research and contract interpretation for AFTRA H&R Funds audits. • Serve as liaisons to Local and National Singers and Dancers Committees. • Participation and support in music-related seminars, events and festivals to promote the union. • Assists in the distribution of digital download and Sound Exchange revenues from the AFM & SAG-AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund to our members. Members and staff also serve as trustees at the Fund. • Serve as field reps for competition shows featuring singers. singers, who don't — something that has long been a sore spot for recording artists. With the onset of the digital era, however, the union has helped to secure royalties for artists played over the Internet or on satellite radio. And that will make a huge diference as consumption of digital media increasingly becomes the norm. In addition, the union continually works to protect these hard-fought gains from those who try to erode them. But the union's role is not limited to bigpicture issues. Staf and member leaders work daily to ensure that contracts are properly executed and that problems are resolved, said Randall Himes, assistant national executive director, sound recordings. "SAG-AFTRA covers and protects a recording for life and sees that the artist is paid when a recording is used in another medium. SAG-AFTRA negotiates contracts, collects monies, arbitrates disputes, provides health and retirement beneits and actively legislates on behalf of our recording artist members," Himes said. "SAG-AFTRA is the union for all recording artists." JEFF FASANO; COURTESY OF BLUE SKY RIDERS; COURTESY OF JENNIFER WARNES • Provides administration of all aspects of the Sound Recordings Code, including W&W, negotiations, signing new companies/producers, processing waiver requests, arbitrations, enforcement and interpretation.