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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.


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).


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).


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.


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!


When are royalty distributions made?

We have one distribution per year within the first two weeks of November.

 


Netherlands Royalties

Dutch home taping and broadcast royalties.

Netherlands Royalties

Japanese Rental Royalties

Royalties paid to non-featured musicians and non-featured vocalists as a result of the rental in Japan of sound recordings on US labels.

Japanese Rental Royalties


Audio Home Recording Act

Royalties paid to non-featured musicians and non-featured vocalists by manufacturers and importers of digital audio recording devices and media in the U.S. pursuant to the Audio Home Recording Act.

Audio Home Recording Act


Digital Performance Royalties

Royalties paid to non-featured musicians and non-featured vocalists as a result of the DPRA (Digital Performance Rights Amendment) and DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) which require the payment of compulsory license fees for the digital transmission of sound recordngs.

Digital Performance Royalties





The AFM and AFTRA Fund maintains a list of individuals that have been credited for covered sound recordings but for whom we currently have no address/contact information. These individuals may be entitled to a check.

Unclaimed Royalties

 

The AFM & AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund is a joint project of The American Federation of Musicians and The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

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