TLDR:
In a preliminary agreement with record labels, Hollywood union workers have secured higher minimum wages and protections against using AI in music production. The agreement mandates consent and compensation before releasing songs featuring digital replicas of artists’ voices.
- Entertainment industry workers strike deal with top record labels for higher wages and safeguards against AI use.
- Agreement covers 2021-2026 period and mandates consent and compensation for songs featuring digital replicas of artists’ voices.
Hollywood Union Deal with Music Giants Guards Against AI Use
Entertainment industry workers have reached a preliminary agreement with major record labels like Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment to ensure higher minimum wages and protections against the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has secured unanimous approval from its executive committee for the “Sound Recordings Agreement,” which covers the period from 2021 to 2026 and represents about 160,000 actors and media personnel.
The agreement addresses the challenge posed by generative AI technology, which enables internet users to replicate artists’ voices without their permission. It mandates consent and compensation before releasing songs featuring digital replicas of artists’ voices, which must be exclusively human under the accord. The deal also includes improvements in health and retirement benefits and a greater portion of streaming revenue subject to contributions.
This move comes amid rising concerns about AI technology in the entertainment industry, following negotiations and strikes in 2023 that led to a contract agreement in November. SAG-AFTRA’s national executive director, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, emphasized the importance of preserving genuine human expression and experience in music, highlighting the need to protect industry members from technological exploitation.
Additionally, in a separate agreement with Replica Studios, an AI voice technology company, SAG-AFTRA has secured performers’ rights to consent and negotiate with the AI company, as well as the ability to opt out of new projects using their voices. While AI technology offers creative flexibility and cost efficiency in filmmaking, the union’s focus remains on ensuring fair credit for industry contributors in the evolving landscape of entertainment.