AFTRA, Musician Union raises concern over SiriusXM proposal
MUMBAI: The American Federation of Television & Radio Artistes (AFTRA) and the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) have stated that SiriusXM has proposed �direct license' deal, that will allow satellite radio SiriusXM to pay 100 percent of royalties to the labels making recouping of royalties difficult for artistes.
If approved the artiste who want royalties will have to file a claim with the labels in order to be paid.
Under the current arrangement SiriusXM pays 50% of the royalties due to the record label, 45% to SoundExchange, and 5% to the AFTRA/AFM intellectual property fund. Currently artistes receive their share of the royalties 50% of all licensing fees from AFTRA, AFM and SoundExchange.
With direct license deal 100% of the royalties would go to the record label leaving the artist to fight with the labels in order to obtain their share of the royalties. AFTRA and the AFM are calling the SiriusXM proposal anti-artist and anti-union behaviour.
In a written statement, AFM president Ray Hair said, "the race by SiriusXM and independent record labels to grab performer copyright royalties hurts the music industry, it erodes the value of music industry-wide, where no one -- artists, musicians or record companies -- can earn a fair living creating and investing in the music everyone wants to hear."
