FAIR Act
Lauryn Hill Champions California Bill to Limit Record Labels’ Power: ‘Greed Often Perverts’
Lauryn Hill has come out in support of a California bill that would prevent record labels from suing artists who leave their record contracts prematurely. On Thursday (April 14), the eight-time Grammy-winning singer/rapper made a public plea to members of the California State Assembly’s Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media to support the FAIR Act, also known as Assembly Bill 2926. Introduced by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) in February, the bill would repeal a 1987 amendment to California’s “Seven-Year Statue” (a.k.a. California Labor Code Section 2855) that allows record labels to sue artists for damages if they leave after seven years but before delivering the required number of albums in their contract. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts an...
FAIR Act Bill to Repeal California’s ‘Seven-Year Statute’ Amendment Wins First Committee Vote
The Free Artists From Industry Restrictions (FAIR) Act passed out of the California State Assembly’s Labor & Employment Committee on Wednesday (March 30) after a 4-2 vote in favor of the legislation. The bill now moves to the Assembly’s Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media for an April 19 hearing and vote. Introduced by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) in February, the FAIR Act — also known as Assembly Bill 2926 — would repeal a 1987 amendment to California’s “Seven-Year Statue” (a.k.a. California Labor Code Section 2855) that allows record labels to sue artists for damages if they leave after seven years but before delivering the required number of albums in their contract. The Seven-Year Statute, which limits personal services contracts for state ...
FAIR Act Bill to Repeal Amendment to ‘Seven-Year Statute’ Up for Vote in California Assembly
Artists and labels are headed for a face off Wednesday (March 30) in Sacramento as the California State Assembly holds the first hearing and vote on repealing an amendment to the state’s “Seven-Year Statute” following February’s re-introduction of the Free Artists From Industry Restrictions (FAIR) Act. Held by the Assembly’s Committee on Labor and Employment, sources from both sides expect the vote to pass. If it does, the bill would then move to the Assembly’s Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media for an April 19 hearing and vote. Assembly Bill 2926 builds on California Labor Code Section 2855. Enacted in 1944 after the judgment in actress Olivia de Havilland’s lawsuit against Warner Bros. Pictures, 2855 limits personal services contracts for state residents...
Irving Azoff, Musician Orgs Hail California Bill to Cap Recording Contracts at 7 Years
If passed, the FAIR Act would correct for a 1987 amendment that excluded recording artists from the Seven Year Statute, a labor law designed to prevent employers in California from enforcing excessively long contracts. As a result of the 1987 amendment, which was pushed by the major record labels, recording artists who seek the protection of the statute are susceptible to legal action and severe monetary damages if they decide to part ways with the label they’re under contract to. In a statement, Music Artists Coalition founder Irving Azoff says amending the current law has become even more urgent in light of the streaming boom. “Streaming has been an unprecedented bonanza for the record labels, but not so for artists,” said Azoff. “It is unfair that the only Californians excluded fr...
