Why was The AFM & AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund established?
The AFM & AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund was formed for the purpose of distributing royalties from various foreign territories and royalties established by government statute under U.S. Copyright Law.
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Where do these royalties come from?
AFTRA & the AFM collectively entered in a variety of negotiations and agreements with organizations including Geidankyo/Center for Performing Rights Administration (CPRA) in Japan and US government agencies to secure royalties for non-featured performers (e.g. sidemusicians & background vocalists).
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What are the specific sources of revenue that are currently handled by the AFM & AFTRA Fund?
The Fund distributes money to non-featured vocalists and non-featured musicians for the rental in Japan of U.S. and Japanese produced sound recordings, Japanese Private Home Copying, Dutch royalties received from SENA in the Netherlands for Private Home Copying and certain broadcast royalties, Audio Home Recording Act (AHRA) monies, and statutory license royalties for the digital broadcast of sound recordings in the U.S pursuant to the DPRA (Digital Performance Rights in Sound Recordings Act of 1995) and DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998).
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Are there any other projected sources of revenue?
The Fund receives home taping money from Japan and the Netherlands, and is just now finalizing discussions with the applicable organization in Spain for the payment of audio visual royalties from that country. In addition, rates and fees have been established for Webcasting, and these monies are now being added to The Digital Performance Royalties (DPR) portion of the distributions.
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Are these royalties paid only to union members?
No, distributions of these royalties are made to union and non-union performers alike.
The Fund distributes to entitled singers and musicians without regard to union membership. If you are a musician or singer who has performed on a recording entitled to a distribution, please check these funds to see if we have money for you!
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When are royalty distributions made?
We have one distribution per year within the first two weeks of November.
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