SRLA Negotiations, AI, and the Road Ahead

September 1, 2026

Tino Gagliardi  -  AFM International President

Protecting the livelihood, creativity, and identity of professional musicians across all sectors of our industry remains our constant mission. As you’ve read in previous columns, a major focus over recent months has been negotiations for a successor Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA), which covers singles, albums, streaming, radio, vinyl, and other sound recordings produced with the major record companies.

This September issue is our Electronic Media Services Division (EMSD) focus issue, featuring columns from EMSD staff that highlight the work they do every day and demystify our contracts and show how they protect you. In that spirit, I want to extend my deep gratitude to EMSD Director John Painting, Assistant Director Rebecca Gurnee, and the entire EMSD team for their dedicated work. Painting’s insight at the bargaining table has been invaluable this year as we pushed through four rounds of arduous SRLA bargaining sessions, alongside myself, AFM and local officers, the RMA, and our team of working musicians.

Last month’s negotiations were difficult. We entered sessions seeking to address healthcare contributions, update payment systems, and establish access to benefits. And, of course, central to our bargaining is the issue of artificial intelligence. Our position at the table is clear: recorded tracks are the direct product of our labor, skill, and personal identity. We demand three core principles for any use of our work in AI training or output generation: consent, credit, and compensation.

However, record company representatives remain focused on profits and dismissing our claims. Meanwhile, progress toward a favorable agreement stalls because the management bargaining team fails to understand the practical realities working musicians face.

This stance at the bargaining table directly contrasts with the labels’ recent court actions. When major labels sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio for unauthorized scraping, they warned that AI risks replacing human artists. Yet, after settling those lawsuits and licensing their catalogs for AI training, the labels collected payouts while paying recording musicians nothing.

Consequently, the AFM filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York against Universal Music Group, Warner Records, and Atlantic Records to enforce Article 21 of the SRLA—the “New Use” provision. (For details on this lawsuit, see page 10).

Union Action and Member Involvement

In direct response to the labels’ actions during negotiations and their withholding of AI licensing revenue, the AFM is organizing musicians worldwide to build a unified stance against unauthorized AI training. We are mobilizing members to take collective action that builds leverage at the bargaining table, in the courts, and throughout the industry.

The major record companies seek to maximize profits on the backs of working musicians, both at the bargaining table and in their corporate licensing deals. We will not allow them to dictate the future of our industry.

To join the organizing committee, participate in local actions, or learn more about the ongoing campaigns, contact AFM Organizing Services Director Gabe Kristal at gkristal@afm.org. Get involved today—this fight requires all of us.

2027 Motion Picture and Television Contract

While we push forward on the sound recording front, we are also preparing for the upcoming bargaining on the Motion Picture and Television Contract.

Although our current film and television contract runs through June 2027, early preparation and strategic organization are vital to our success. As we prepare for our upcoming preliminary meeting with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), we look forward to working with Greg Hessinger, who recently stepped into the role of president and chief negotiator, replacing longtime president Carol Lombardini. Hessinger brings a distinct background to the table, having worked on both sides of industry negotiations—first as a former labor leader and executive director at both American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and later representing employers as a managing partner in labor law.

In preparation for the 2027 negotiations, the EMSD and Organizing Services departments and the RMA are actively conducting research and developing a contract action team (CAT). Building a strong network of musicians well in advance gives us the structure, communication channels, and strength needed to address working conditions, residuals, and contractual protections across the film and television sectors.

If you are a musician working under this contract, we will be providing more information on how you can get involved. Rank and file musicians are the heart of our union, and we will all work together to make sure the next generation of professional musicians can earn a fair living working under these contracts.

Honoring Labor Day

Finally, as this issue reaches you around Labor Day, let us take a moment to celebrate the history and power of organized labor. From the 40-hour workweek and workplace safety standards to healthcare benefits and fair compensation, every major victory for working people was won through collective action. Labor Day is a direct reminder that the protections we enjoy today exist because working people stood together. As we honor that legacy this month, let it inspire our continued fight for the future of our profession.

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