American Federation of Musicians Reaches Deal with Film Studios

The new agreement, which regards the use of music on streaming platforms and the misuse of AI, has been described as a "Watershed Moment for Artists"

The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) has come to a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), regarding bargaining around the use of music on streaming platforms and the misuse of AI.

The details of the agreement have not yet been disclosed, but the AFM announced that it was successful just one day after the resumption of contract negotiations. These initially began in January 2024.

The AFM's negotiating committee made a unanimous recommendation that the union's board approve the contract — though the process will not be complete until union members ratify the decision.

"This agreement represents a major win for musicians who have long been under-compensated for their work in the digital age," said Tino Gagliardi, AFM international president and chief negotiator. "We have secured historic breakthroughs in streaming residuals, established critical guardrails against the misuse of AI, gained meaningful wage increases and other important gains. This agreement represents a watershed moment for the artists who create the soundtracks for countless film and TV productions."

"I want to congratulate our AFM Fair Share for Musicians bargaining unit members for their unwavering commitment to fighting for a contract that fairly compensates them for their invaluable contributions to film and TV and protects them in the ever-changing film and television industry," Gagliardi continued.

"We were not alone in this negotiation, and we were proud to have the full backing of fellow unions: SAG-AFTRA, Writers Guild of America, IATSE, and the Teamsters. It was yet another powerful reminder that when we have solidarity in the labor movement, we can achieve great things. We also would like to thank Carol Lombardini, president of the AMPTP, as well as the AMPTP and its member companies, for helping bring these negotiations to a successful conclusion."