The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists has begun negotiations with major record labels on its Sound Recordings Code, the union announced Tuesday.
The current code will expire Dec. 31. The sound recording code is AFTRA's second-largest contract, covering singers, royalty and non-royalty artists, announcers, actors, comedians, narrators and sound effects artists. It also covers audiobooks, comedy albums and cast albums. It generates more than $140 million per year in AFTRA-covered earnings.
In July, AFTRA's board of directors approved the union's package of proposals for the new agreement.
AFTRA expects negotiations to continue throughout the month in New York and Los Angeles.