SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange Urge Union Members: Claim Your Digital Royalties

LOS ANGELES, May 21, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Media and entertainment union SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange, the independent organization that collects and distributes royalties for the streaming of sound recordings on digital radio, have teamed up. Together they identified SAG-AFTRA members who may have a cumulative $2.3 million in unclaimed royalties for the use of their recordings from 2,500+ digital radio services.

SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange conducted an extensive crosscheck between their two databases to identify nearly 2,000 union member performers who are potentially owed royalties. A large number of those identified as potentially having royalties collected by SoundExchange on their behalf include actors and comedians, who are likely unaware they are owed money. All members identified are receiving communications via U.S. mail and email alerting them to the waiting money, and directing them to SoundExchange's simple (and free) online registration.

"Royalties are an important revenue stream, not just for our recording artist members, but for all our members whose recordings are played on some type of digital platform," said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director David White. "Anytime we can assist our members in collecting money for their professional work, we're happy to help. SoundExchange has been a great partner with the union and we're grateful that this organization exists for our members' benefit."

"While we are best known for our focus on music, SoundExchange also collects royalties for actors, comedians and spoken word recordings," said SoundExchange President and CEO Michael Huppe. "The match with SAG-AFTRA allows SoundExchange to reach all of these important performers (both music and non-music) who are entitled to their share of royalties from streaming radio services. We are pleased with the union's efforts to help register their eligible members, and look forward to working with them on future initiatives."

When sound recordings are streamed on certain digital services, including satellite radio, Internet radio and cable TV music channels (such as iHeart Radio, Pandora, SiriusXM and Music Choice), SoundExchange collects a royalty on behalf of both performers and copyright holders, as directed under U.S. Copyright Law. Since 2001, SoundExchange has collected and paid out more than $2 billion in digital royalties. SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange have partnered to locate unregistered SAG-AFTRA members to ensure that they know about this important revenue stream and urge them to take the steps necessary to collect the royalties that they are owed.

Any artist whose recordings are played can earn and claim royalties through SoundExchange. Performers and owners of master recordings may register with SoundExchange free of charge to receive royalties. For more information on registration, please visit www.soundexchange.com or call SoundExchange at (800) 961-2091.

About SAG-AFTRA
SAG-AFTRA represents more than 165,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. With national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide, SAG-AFTRA members work together to secure the strongest protections for media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.

Follow SAG-AFTRA on Twitter (twitter.com/sagaftra) and Facebook (facebook.com/sagaftra).

About SoundExchange
SoundExchange is the independent nonprofit performance rights organization representing the entire recorded music industry. The organization collects statutory royalties on behalf of recording artists and master rights owners for the use of their content from satellite radio, Internet radio, cable TV music channels and other services that stream sound recordings. The Copyright Royalty Board, created by Congress, has entrusted SoundExchange as the only entity in the United States to collect and distribute these digital performance royalties from more than 2,500 services. SoundExchange has paid out nearly $2 billion in royalties since its inception. For more information, visit www.SoundExchange.com or www.facebook.com/soundexchange.

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SOURCE SoundExchange