SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard Statement Praising Introduction of Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2015

NEW YORK (April 13, 2015) --- SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard today praised the Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2015, introduced by representatives Jerrold Nadler, Marsha Blackburn, John Conyers Jr. and Ted Deutch. The announcement of the bi-partisan legislation was made today at the SAG-AFTRA national office in Manhattan.

“Today’s introduction of the Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2015 is an important step forward in making sure SAG-AFTRA recording artist and singer members are paid fairly across all music service platforms, including AM/FM, satellite and online streaming including Internet radio.

“This bill brings music licensing for sound recordings into the 21st century. AM/FM stations will finally pay royalties on the sound recordings they broadcast. Right now, performers receive nothing – no royalties at all – for use of their recordings on AM/FM radio. This is something our members, including the late and great ‘Chairman of the Board’ Frank Sinatra have fought for decades to establish.

“This bill establishes a uniform fair market value royalty standard for all services and ensures that creators of sound recordings made prior to 1972, some of our most beloved and valued music, are fairly compensated when their music is played.

“SAG-AFTRA is proud to stand with its partners in the musicFIRST Coalition and urge our lawmakers to finally pass this bi-partisan bill.”

SAG-AFTRA is asking its members to stand together and tell Congress to pass the Fair Play Fair Pay Act by going to musicfirst-coalition.rallycongress.com/17671/support-fair-play-fair-pay-act/ and to show their support by using #FairPlayFairPay in social media.