AFM Electronic Media Resource Center
We’ve reorganized our contract information to better help employers and musicians alike to find the resources they are looking for.
Information is now organized by recording medium, then further subdivided on sub-pages to help steer you towards the correct agreement, wages, benefits, and filing instructions for your project.
Where Do I Begin?
If you’re totally stuck, start with “Where Do I Begin?” below for some background information on why there are so many different agreements, otherwise, start with the broadcast medium that best fits the project you are working on.
For captures not intended for public release.
An “archival recording” occurs when a live engagement is captured for the purposes of future review by the Producer and the Producer only. Archival recordings are not permitted to be broadcast or disseminated in any way, shape, or form. Moreover, a recording engagement cannot be called for the purpose of being an archival recording, if outside of the scope of a live engagement or steady collective bargaining agreement.
Most likely, if you are looking to capture a recording for purposes such as demonstration to potential financial backers, the Audio Demonstration Recording Agreement is a better fit.
The AFM has a Visual Archival Agreement to cover the capture, with no more than two cameras, of a live engagement for the purposes of review. If such a capture is intended for sale or other dissemination, it may better fit under the Limited Release DVD Agreement.
For captures not intended for public release.
For audio or audiovisual content promoting a product, service, etc.
For captures intended for demonstration purposes.
For audiovisual projects made for cinemas, television or new media.
For content made for streaming/new media.