Major label and union work

[bassybass]

Hi Justin,
I'm curious, being kinda green about how the session world works---when you play a major label type of session and it's a union gig (which I gather it has to be from another thread), aside from whatever the fee/scale that you got for the sessions, do you continue to get any kind of union money for different kinds of airplay/performances of the recordings? I know about the BMI/ASCAP angle if you're also a writer, but I'm just talking about where you're a "sideman". Are there potential continuing residuals from the afm for recordings as they spin on the radio, placed in TV, etc.? Thanks!

 

[jmjbassplayer]

There is something called the "Phonograph Musicians Special Payments Fund". It is a check that comes once a year, in august, and it's a fund that record companies pay into. The Fund administrators tally up all your Union sessions for the prior year, and give you a share of the money that they've collected. Those checks can be very significant, as can the one that comes every year from a different fund strictly for film music.

Let me tell you that it is really a good thing. I was ambivalent about my Union membership until I started seeing those checks every year. It's a nice surprise, and very worth it.

Best,
JMJ

 

[bassybass]

Very interesting--thanks!

 

[jmjbassplayer]

'welcome. Web links:

The Fund site:
http://www.sound-recording.org/index.html

A good description of how it works:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

JMJ