Dear Friend,

After more than two years of tough negotiations, musicians voted to approve a new contract with the major film and television studios that includes many significant improvements, including for the first time—screen credits for musicians.

Also for the first time, the contract establishes fair wages and conditions for high-budget shows made for streaming platforms. The two-year contract also includes yearly 3% wage increases and increased residuals for shows rented and purchased online.

Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York musicians visited studio executives at their homes, performed impromptu concerts at events honoring entertainment industry leaders, picketed Disney CEO Bob Iger’s book signings, and many more actions to pressure the major entertainment companies—and it worked. By banding together, musicians were able to secure a good contract that beat back drastic management proposals and win improvements.

Although this contract does not include residuals for work on made-for-streaming films and television shows, musicians are continuing their fighting for streaming residuals. I view the two-year contract as a short-term “truce” in the fight for made-for streaming residuals.

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