Why Now?

SAG-AFTRA has always covered podcasts, primarily through its New Media Department, but those contracts were based on contracts meant for audiovisual content, as was the signatory process, and we realized that we needed input from podcast performers, hosts and producers to create more relevant contracts and an easier signing process.

So, the National Board established a Podcast Steering Committee, made up of members from all over the country who work in podcasts. They provided their perspective and experience and weighed in as we built new podcast agreements and a new signing process.

We now have dedicated agreements with terms that are relevant to the fast-moving, audio-only space. Additionally, SAG-AFTRA has a new, dedicated Podcast Department and a simplified signatory process.

SAG-AFTRA has set up a new webpage at sagaftra.org/podcastcontracts and an automated signatory portal that allows producers — both large podcasting companies and individual podcasters — to sign podcasts of all shapes and sizes swiftly and easily, with hands-on staff support.

This item was originally featured in the SAG-AFTRA summer 2023 magazine.