On October 12, 2023, the Fund made its Traditional Music Video (TMV) Distribution, which totaled $3,004,768, before administrative expenses. Distributions were paid or payable to 5,744 musicians that performed on 6,974 songs. (see a copy of the letter below, which accompanied the TMV Distribution payments).

When the distribution was made, there were musicians that couldn’t be paid because the Fund was unable to locate them. To view musicians currently with unpaid distributions, click on the “Do We Have Money For You?” link to the Fund’s website.

October 12, 2023

Dear Participating Musician:

The Sound Recording Special Payments Fund (“Fund”) is pleased to provide you with the enclosed check, which represents your portion of the Fund’s traditional music video distribution. You are entitled to this payment under the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement between the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada and signatory record companies known as the Sound Recording Labor Agreement (“SRLA”). Please note the check is valid until January 9, 2024, since the Fund’s bank will not cash checks deposited after that date.

Under the SRLA, signatory record companies have agreed to make contributions to the Fund based on the sale or exploitation of traditional music videos.¹ Contributions received for each traditional music video are distributed (less administrative expenses) to the musicians whose performances are embodied in the song on a pro-rata basis. For example, if the Fund received a $2,000 contribution on streaming revenues for a traditional music video consisting of a song with four musicians performing on the song, each musician would receive $500 (less administrative expenses).

For your reference, a statement is enclosed which identifies the song(s) that generated the distribution payment to you.

While the traditional music video distribution occurs annually, you will only be entitled to a distribution in the future if the Fund receives contributions for a song that either you were previously paid for or for other music videos that contain a song embodying your performance.

As always, I encourage you to visit the Fund’s website, www.sound-recording.org, and if you haven’t already, please sign up as a registered user. Once registered, you can update your address, designate beneficiaries and submit direct deposit account information (U.S. banks only) all without having to contact the Fund. The website also remains the best place to get important information about the Fund and answers to your frequently asked questions.

Please also be sure to visit our “Do We Have Money For You?” webpage. There, you can search for your or your fellow musicians’ names to find out if you, or they, have unclaimed payments from any of the Fund’s three distributions (i.e. Main-annual, Traditional Music Video and Sampling).

Warmest regards,

V. Robert DiPaola

V. Robert DiPaola
Fund Administrator