Are DJs Covered by Electronic Media Agreements?

September 1, 2025

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by Mary Contini-Migliore, AFM Electronic Media Services Division, Sound Recording Supervisor

Many artists wonder whether disc jockeys can be covered under AFM electronic media agreements. The question of their coverage eligibility has floated around for years, specifically as it relates to working under our Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA). So, can DJs be covered by the SRLA or not? Like many things, the answer depends on several factors. Before addressing the answer and its nuances, let’s talk about why this is a question in the first place.

DJs have a significant role in music history and the scene at large. The question of their coverage is not a question of the talent or skill involved in their work but instead comes from the term DJ. It is vague and describes some completely different jobs. When we say DJ, who are we talking about? A radio DJ? A club DJ? A mobile wedding or party DJ? A turntablist? The work of all DJs is not the same, so when we’re talking about a contract that addresses specific labor, we need to get specific in our conversation.

The determination as to whether DJs can be covered by the SRLA is in the contract language. The SRLA is an agreement that covers musicians in the creation and recording of records. “Musicians” here includes leaders, contractors, music prep personnel, and, of course, instrumentalists (including those who use computers, sequencing devices, and synthesizers).

The agreement says “anyone who causes … a device … or musical instrument to play or produce music or sound” in the creation or production of records is covered. So, the question is if the DJ is contributing to the creation of records or are they just playing pre-existing ones?

If they’re creating a new sound, for example, scratching or mixing on a recording, then the work is covered. But if they only pressed play on a playback device, such that the only thing being recorded is a recording that already existed, then it’s hard to justify that as meeting SRLA’s standard of instrumental performance. The key distinction is whether they added a musical aspect to the recording that wasn’t there already.

The work of a DJ may look different from that of a traditional instrumentalist, but as long as they’re contributing to the creation of a new record, they can be covered by the SRLA and its alternative limited volume agreements, such as Limited Pressing, Demonstration Recording, and Single Song Overdub. This is true for those who record in studio, on location, or at home.

For musicians who want to learn more about working under the SRLA, please see our new SRLA 2025 Musician Packet in the Sound Recordings section of the EMSD Resource Center on the AFM.org website. It provides an overview of the agreement and a step-by-step guide to filing work. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at mcontini@afm.org.

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