AFTRA, music labels set talk date

Discussions between ballroom dancers for music videos and record labels will resume Jan. 11-12 following a six-month break. The American Federation of Television & Radio Artists, which reps the ballroom dancers, made the announcement Thursday evening. AFTRA also offers scheduled a Jan. 6 rally before The new sony Music offices in Beverly Hillsides to aid the ballroom dancers. Board member Jason George and ballroom dancers Teresa Espinosa and Dana Wilson are going to speak. The moves come two several weeks after AFTRA came a lot more than 160 ballroom dancers and choreographers to some standing-room-only "Now It's Time" forum in North Hollywood to exhibit support for that unionization move. AFTRA's current deal on its seem recording contract includes a contract through the labels to bargain for any music-video agreement to exchange a contract discussed in 1986. AFTRA negotiator Randall G. Himes complained in the October event that whenever a settling session on June 21, labels had delayed in reacting to AFTRA's proposal and setting dates for additional talks. AFTRA contended the 1986 agreement is outdated, particularly with ad-supported streaming services, music videos producing growing revenues. The "Now It's Time" campaign, released with a number of videos to coincide using the MTV Video Music Honours at the end of August, requires an agreement which includes safety, fair pay, residuals and health insurance and retirement benefits. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com