AFTRA Music Video Campaign Update

Posted October 20, 2011

AFTRA MEMBERS: SUPPORT AFTRA DANCERS IN GETTING A FAIR CONTRACT
FOR MUSIC VIDEOS

More than 160 dancers and choreographers gathered Monday night in Los Angeles at the North Hollywood Performing Arts Center for a special event co-hosted by AFTRA and Dancers’ Alliance to discuss plans to escalate a campaign to win a fair and first industry-wide agreement covering dancers and other performers who work in music videos.

AFTRA commenced negotiations for a music video contract on June 21, 2011 with representatives of Sony, UMG, Warner, EMI, Disney and most of their subsidiary labels. A successful contract will provide safety, fair pay, residuals, health and retirement benefits and other provisions for dancers and other professional performers.

Dancers listen to a resentation during the
AFTRA Music Video Q&A

“We had a very productive, exciting meeting Monday night, and it’s great to see the dance community so united,” said AFTRA member and dancer Damian “Dmoe” Gomez. “We’re all saying to the labels that we’ve been waiting too long for a contract, and it’s about time that we get back to negotiations.”

“The level of support in the dance community for a music video contract has been strong, and after last night’s meeting we are gaining more momentum,” said AFTRA dancer, choreographer and Los Angeles Local Board Member Galen Hooks. “The response on Twitter has been overwhelming.”

AFTRA Dancers and Performers are asking their fellow Union members to join the fight and support them in their campaign to get a fair contract by sharing videos made for their “It’s About Time” campaign, as well as utilizing social networks, including Facebook and Twitter, to spread their message and put pressure on the labels.

Following Monday’s meeting, the momentum continued on Twitter with #itsabouttime trending in Los Angeles as well as messages involving the campaign directed to Universal Music Group (@umg) and Sony Music Global (@sonymusicglobal).

Follow AFTRA (@AFTRA) and Dancers’ Alliance (@DancersAlliance) and join the campaign! Tweet, re-tweet, post, share mesages on Twitter and Facebook and help keep the pressure on the labels.

In August, dancers stepped up their campaign for a fair contract covering dancers and other performers in music videos by launching a social media and video campaign called “It's About Time.”

The online campaign began with a video campaign kick-off message from Hooks. Other participants include choreographer/director Brian Friedman, former Pussycat Doll Carmit Bachar, comedian Affion Crockett and many established dancers, including Bryan Tanaka, Randi Kemper and Shaun Evaristo. Dancers’ Alliance is a grassroots organization dedicated to educating dancers and building solidarity in the dance community.

The campaign’s theme of “It’s About Time” refers to the 30-year history of the modern music video, the recent resurgence in the popularity and profitability of music videos and the need for dancers and other performers to finally be recognized for the talent and professionalism they bring to the music video industry. CLICK HERE to view the videos.

To read more about the music video campaign, go to www.aftra.com/AFTRA_Dancers.htm.

While AFTRA has placed a high priority on achieving a fair agreement, industry representatives have been slow in responding to AFTRA’s proposal and setting dates for continued negotiations.

AFTRA Los Angeles Board Member Galen Hooks

“We are working to schedule dates to continue negotiations for a meaningful industry-wide agreement with the labels,” said Randall Himes, AFTRA National Director of Sound Recordings. “AFTRA dancers and performers are an integral part of the music videos that excite fans and help generate profits for both labels and our artists. ‘It’s About Time’ these performers receive basic contract protections and health and pension benefits for this work.”

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