National Board Approves Music Video Agreement

The SAG-AFTRA National Board unanimously approved and ratified a music video agreement at its Oct. 14–15 meeting in Los Angeles following the union’s four-day biennial convention. The meeting was the first with the newly elected board members and vice presidents.

The new, three-year deal achieves important economic and safety gains for performers working in music videos.

The agreement is effective from May 1, 2019, through April 30, 2022. The major labels party to the agreement are Warner Records, Atlantic Records, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Capitol Records and Hollywood Records (Disney).

“I am proud to be part of the team that helped achieve this contract, which includes new set minimums, protections against sexual harassment and better wages for background performers,” said Negotiating Committee Chair and Dancer Committee National Vice Chair Danielle Towne. “This agreement will ensure that music videos can remain creative while the performers that bring them to life feel safe.”

Highlights of the Music Video Agreement include:

• Adding a $500 minimum (12-hour day) to the $50,000-$100,00 tier.
• Making the prorated eight-hour day for the $100,000-$150,00 tier permanent.
• Increasing the daily rate for existing dancer minimums by 3% upon ratification, with an additional 3% starting May 1, 2020, and a 2.5.% increase in the third year.
• Establishing a minimum wage for background nationwide, pegged at 10% above applicable minimum wage.
• Requiring that a stunt coordinator be engaged when aerial acrobatics and non-dance stunts are to be performed.
• Including language addressing sexual harassment prevention.
• Including a brand-new nudity rider that defines nudity with considerations to the special requirements and culture of music video production.

In other business, the National Board also approved a negotiating committee and wages & working conditions process for the Corporate, Educational & Non-Broadcast Contract. In addition, President Gabrielle Carteris announced the finalized planning for SAG-AFTRA’s new digital media facilities and on-camera lab located at the national headquarters office at SAG-AFTRA Plaza in Los Angeles.

This item was originally featured in the fall 2019 issue of SAG-AFTRA magazine.