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The
deal covers the five-year period from 2021 to 2026 and has been
unanimously approved by the executive committee of SAG-AFTRA,
which represents roughly 160,000 actors and other media
professionals, the union said in a statement on its website.
AI has emerged as a big concern in the entertainment industry
and the issue was at the center of talks between SAG-AFTRA and
major studios last year, which finally culminated in a contract
in November after a months-long strike.
The music industry is especially grappling with songs created by
generative AI — a technology that makes it easy for internet
users to mimic artists' voices, often without their consent.
The SAG-AFTRA union said the tentative deal with the record
labels requires both consent and compensation before a song is
released that uses a digital replica of an artist's voice.
It added the terms "artist", "singer" and "royalty artist" could
only refer to humans under the agreement.
"This agreement ensures that our members are protected. While
technology can enhance the creative process, the essence of
music must always be rooted in genuine human expression and
experience," said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA National
Executive Director and Chief Negotiator.
Other highlights of the agreement include improvements in health
and retirement options and an increase in the percentage of
streaming revenue to be covered by contributions.
A final ratification vote by members is expected to take place
in the next few weeks.
(Reporting by Granth Vanaik and Aditya Soni in Bengaluru;
Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)
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