AFM Makes Significant Gains in Successor Television Videotape Agreement

September 1, 2025

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by Rebecca Gurnee, AFM Electronic Media Services Division Assistant Director

This winter, the AFM reached a tentative agreement with ABC, CBS, and NBC on a successor Television Videotape Agreement, the Federation agreement covering musicians’ work on live television programs such as variety, talk, news, and sports. After months of bargaining, strategic coalition-building, and a tremendous show of unity from AFM members and allies, the new agreement was ratified by the bargaining unit in May. It delivers significant gains in wages, health contributions, streaming protections, and for the first time, strong contractual language around the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

The agreement provides across-the-board wage increases of 5% in the first year, 4% in the second, and 3% in the third, adding up to nearly 12.5% compounded over the life of the contract. In addition to these increases, the Federation secured annual improvements to health plan contributions and established, for the first time, a 2% health contribution on reuse payments. This brings the AFM’s agreement in line with key standards set by its sibling unions and represents a major advancement in how reuse is treated from a benefits perspective.

To streamline administration and strengthen the union’s infrastructure, the deal introduces automatic payroll deduction of work dues for original sessions. Implementing this system will make paying dues significantly easier for musicians working under this agreement.

The agreement also brings major reforms to dispute resolution, introducing a formal grievance and arbitration procedure with set timelines for meetings and resolutions. This long-needed process gives the Federation a faster, clearer path to enforce contract provisions without resorting immediately to expensive legal action. In exchange, a mutual no-strike/no-lockout clause ensures workplace stability during the term of the agreement.

In the fast-changing world of new media, the Federation has achieved important progress. Residual payments for advertising-based video on demand (AVOD) are increasing. For the first time, excerpted clips—as opposed to only full-length programs—will trigger payments when used on streaming platforms. The agreement also brings high-budget streaming content under coverage, with payments that scale based on production budget.

One of the most critical victories in this negotiation was securing strong initial protections around AI and digital replicas. The agreement requires that musicians receive notice and compensation when their recorded performances are used to prompt generative AI systems. It also places clear restrictions around the use of digital replicas, including consent requirements, additional compensation, and pension contributions. And importantly, the contract now clearly defines a “musician” as a human being, something that was codified in AFM’s film agreements in 2024.

Music preparation personnel will see gains as well. The agreement introduces a new 35% premium for certain types of transcription work and gives music prep workers the right to sign off on invoices, improving transparency and control over their own payments. While some of the contract’s legacy language remains intact, these updates lay a foundation for further progress in future negotiations.

The AFM is proud of this forward-looking Videotape Agreement and its many progressive improvements. It addresses modern workplace realities, while honoring and preserving long-standing protections that generations of musicians have relied on. It would not have been possible without the dedication of the AFM’s bargaining team, local officers, legal counsel, and most importantly, the rank-and-file musicians who made their voices heard throughout the process.

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