Recording Rap

The first month of the New Year has flown by. If you have moved during 2001 please take the time to do an address check-up. Even though we may have your new address in Local 655�s computer there are other companies that may pay you directly...when you record for Estefan Enterprises they send you your check directly, and you need to update their database. (Did you know that they make your pension contribution and pay your work dues for you?) After they pay the musicians, they mail me the contract, copy of pension contribution, and a work dues check for all the musicians on the contract. If you do a lot of recording for the Estefans this saves you a sizable sum during the year. They do this as a courtesy to Local 655. Recording musicians also need to do new W-4 and I-9�s for the payroll companies, Entertainment Partners and Talent Partners. Call us and we will send the paperwork to you. The Pension Fund, Phonograph Record Special Payments Fund and the Motion Picture and TV Special Payments Fund also need to be updated if you receive checks from them.

Recording Scales

New recording scales will be in effect for the next two years and will be posted on our Local�s Web site at www.AFM655.org. You can also call us to fax you a copy.

Musicians have asked me why they don�t always get another payment for the video of an artist they�ve recorded for. If you are in the music video and you do the sidelining you will get another payment. If you have received a payment for the recording and the video is just used to promote the song, that is not considered a new use.

If you are videotaped during a recording session, the company has the right to use up to two minutes of the song for promo. This is called an Electronic Press Kit. The company does not owe a payment unless they use a full song. In this event they are required to pay each musician at the Video Promo Supplement rates.

Compilations

If you record for an artist, the album is released, and years down the road the artist releases a greatest hits album, the record company does not owe a payment as they have the right to use the identical content of the record originally produced from the master. For all other circumstances a payment will be owed.

I am still working on the Jon Secada infomercial payments. I thank our union members that called me to let me know there was a problem with the footage used. Estefan�s engineer used the footage from the "El Ultimo Adios" taping instead of the Jon Secada Christmas album taping. I am in the process of getting a payment for everyone that was videotaped for both tapings. This is one instance of the advantages of being on a union contract!

Please continue to call me with your questions, as that�s the only way I can clean up projects and get contracts filed.