Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/605448
For Members 28 SAG-AFTRA | Fall 2015 | SAGAFTRA.org I n October, SAG-AFTRA members overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike regarding work covered by the Interactive Media Agreement. The referendum, which was approved by more than 96 percent of voting members, does not mean that members will be going on strike. Rather, it grants the National Board the authority to declare a strike, should it be necessary. With this result in hand, the Negotiating Committee will seek to return to the bargaining table and continue to press for a fair resolution on behalf of performers working in video games. The Interactive Media Agreement expired on Dec. 31, 2014. Bargaining sessions held in February and June of this year failed to produce an agreement. For all of the latest information about interactive negotiations, including an extensive list of FAQs, go to sagaftra.org/interactive. MEMBERS AUTHORIZE INTERACTIVE STRIKE FAIR PLAY AT THE WHISKY A GO GO I t was a good time at the historic Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, but the message was serious. Highlighting the need for fair pay for recording artists, musicFIRST hosted a sign-on event in support of the Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2015. The July 31 event, headlined by L.A. Guns, was an educational rally focusing on artists' rights and a celebration of the "Sunset Strip" music scene that gave a generation of artists their start. Many people are unaware that recording artists are not paid for the use of their recordings on AM/FM radio in the United States. The bipartisan Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2015 will remedy this problem and ensure artists are fairly paid when their songs are played on terrestrial radio and across all platforms. Artists and allies attended in support of this effort to make sure the legislation is passed, adding their names to the hundreds of artists and music creators who have already signed the statement of support. This event followed the official announcement of the legislation on April 13 at SAG-AFTRA's national New York office, attended by more than two dozen SAG-AFTRA recording artists, including Elvis Costello, Cyndi Lauper, Ray Parker Jr., Rosanne Cash and Martha Reeves. The Fair Play Fair Pay bill was introduced by Reps. Jerry Nadler, D-NY, and Marsha Blackburn, R-TN, in April. The bill will not see action until sometime in early 2016 with the timing depending on how the House Judiciary Committee addresses the larger set of music licensing copyright issues. SAG-AFTRA continues to work with fellow members of the musicFIRST Coalition, including SoundExchange, AFM, the RIAA, The Grammy Foundation, A2IM and others to build support for the legislation. Tell your legislators you support the Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2015 by visiting musicfirstcoalition.org, and join the conversation on social media, #FairPlayFairPay. Performers turned up at the Whisky to sign a statement of support for the Fair Play Fair Pay Act. ANGELA WEISS