ACTRA PRS Annual Report
Transcription
ACTRA PRS Annual Report
ACTRA PRS Annual Report 2014 | 2015 WE’RE HERE TO SERVE YOU BETTER ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 Contents Highlights 2014 | 15 1 Messages from your Leadership 2 ACTRA PRS Claims 8 Working for You 10 Reaching Out: Beyond Borders 11 ACTRA PRS Hall of Fame 12 ACTRA PRS Production Payout 13 ACTRA PRS Direct Deposit 14 Stunt Performers 17 Minors’ Trust 18 Financial Assurances 19 ACTRA RACS 20 Financials26 Your Leadership and Staff 28 ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national organization of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 22,000 members across the country, the foundation of Canada’s highly acclaimed professional performing community. ACTRA Performers’ Rights Society is a division of ACTRA. There are two departments at ACTRA PRS with a clear mission to track the exploitation of the finished product and secure monies owing to performers: ACTRA PRS Claims collects monies on behalf of audiovisual artists and ACTRA Recording Artists’ Collecting Society on works for audio artists. ACTRA PRS Claims collects and disburses Use Fees, royalties, residuals and all other forms of remuneration arising from productions under ACTRA’s collective agreements and statutory rights for audiovisual artists. ACTRA RACS is the leading performer collective management organization (CMO) in Canada. For over 10 years, it has been collecting and distributing money to sound recording artists from tariffs established by Canada’s Copyright Act. Bringing your money home. To you. That’s what we do. www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 ACTRA PRS Highlights 2014 | 2015 ACTRA PRS DISBURSEMENTS MONEY DISBURSED $13,098,937 NUMBER OF ACTRA PRS CLAIMS CHEQUES MAILED 44,718 NUMBER OF ARTISTS SIGNED ON FOR DIRECT DEPOSIT 2,820 ACTRA RACS Highlights 2014 | 2015 ACTRA RACS DISBURSEMENTS ALL TARIFFS $8,331,505 PRIVATE COPYING $665,415 REPRESENTED ARTISTS 5,691 www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs 1 ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 A Message from your President Ferne Downey Over the past year at ACTRA PRS and ACTRA RACS, we have continued to make big changes to serve YOU better – the introduction of direct deposit, a new Use Fee system, and an increase in administration staff, to name a few! We’ve also introduced a new feature on our website – Most Recent Productions Paid Out by ACTRA PRS – which allows you, agents and ACTRA branches to check what monies have been distributed by ACTRA PRS on a month-to-month basis. ACTRA’s leadership continues to support our performance rights internationally through the promotion of the Beijing Treaty. Adopted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2012, the Treaty protects the intellectual property rights of audiovisual artists by ensuring we are compensated fairly for our work and it is not distorted or used in any way that is harmful to our reputations. While the Treaty has been signed by countries around the world, Canada continues to lag behind in its commitment. As National president of ACTRA and, president of the International Federation of Actors (FIA), I believe we must all work together to encourage the Canadian government to sign and ratify the Treaty. The same protection that audio artists currently enjoy under the Copyright Act 2 www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 should be extended to audiovisual artists. It’s time for Canada to get on board and provide this protection to Canadian performers under the Copyright Act when it undergoes review in 2017. I was again delighted to lend my voice on World Intellectual Property Day to this end. The theme this year was “Get up, stand up. For music.”. You can check out my World IP Day video at actra.ca. We’re excited about what we’ve achieved this past year and what is still come – all to serve you better so you can continue to do what you do best with the knowledge and comfort that you’re protected. In solidarity, Ferne Downey President ACTRA National, ACTRA PRS, ACTRA RACS @fernedowney www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs 3 ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 A A Message Message from from your your President National Executive Director For more than 22 years as ACTRA’s chief negotiator, I’ve had the pleasure of serving you – ACTRA PRS and ACTRA RACS artists – by bargaining some of the strongest collective agreements in the world to ensure you have the best protection and fair compensation. Stephen Waddell 4 More of you are being paid for your performances than ever before thanks to the growing number of signed international agreements by ACTRA PRS and ACTRA RACS. These agreements ensure we remain competitive in an increasingly global industry. We also continue to protect minors through the ACTRA PRS-administered Minors’ Trust, serving artists under the age of 18. Creating open lines of communication between ACTRA PRS and parents ensures the ongoing protection of our growing Canadian talent and the future of our industry. www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 The ACTRA PRS and ACTRA RACS teams are here to serve YOU better by finding new ways to get your money to you faster! Our fourth annual report will take you through some of the improvements we’ve made and those to come to ensure you collect all the monies you are owed regardless of where your performance is aired and where you happen to be. In solidarity, Stephen Waddell National Executive Director ACTRA National, ACTRA PRS, ACTRA RACS @waddellstephen www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs 5 ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 A A Message Message from from your your President Director Here at ACTRA PRS and ACTRA RACS, we continue to look for better ways to serve YOU – the ongoing negotiation of international agreements, fast and efficient ways to get you your money and our new Use Fee database are just some examples of our ongoing commitment to serving you more efficiently. Brad Keenan We’re happy to announce that we’re also growing – we’ve added two more administrators to our ACTRA RACS team, plus an international coordinator who focuses exclusively on collecting monies owed to artists from international markets. We’ve also seen an increase in our ACTRA RACS registered artists to almost 5,700 in Canada and abroad. On an international level, our screen-based industry continues to expand its borders – our work is being broadcast and streamed to an ever-growing global audience. This is why the relationships and reciprocal agreements signed by ACTRA PRS are expanding to new international markets. In fact, thanks to these international agreements, we were able to distribute more money to you last year than ever before. These new revenue streams are monitored by ACTRA PRS staff who continue to work diligently to collect payments for the use of your work. Our fourth annual report will take you through all of the work we’ve done over the past year to ensure you’re getting paid the money you are owed from the use of your work across Canada and around the world. 6 www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 If you haven’t yet signed up for direct deposit, make sure to check out the upcoming changes to our direct deposit system so you’re all set for the March 1, 2016, deadline when we’ll be eliminating monthly cheque runs (we’ll be moving to a yearly cheque run). Additionally, we’re excited to tell you that direct deposit is now available to U.S. financial institutions to U.S.-based artists. Direct deposit is initially only available for film and television artists. Direct deposit for ACTRA RACS artists will be made available in 2016. We’re continually looking for ways to serve you better so we hope this report helps explain a bit about what we do for you. If there is anything that you would like clarity on, or for more information, please call me at the office at +416.644.1502 or on my mobile at +416.670.6670. Sincerely, Brad Keenan Director ACTRA PRS, ACTRA RACS @bradkeenan www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs 7 ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 ACTRA PRS CLAIMS Working for you. And with you. When an artist performs under an ACTRA agreement, payment comes in two forms: for the work at the time of production, and for the future exploitation of the finished product. ACTRA stewards in branches across the country ensure that the first payment is done properly: checking time sheets, and ensuring rehearsals and overtime have been paid. But what about the back-end? That’s where ACTRA PRS comes in. ACTRA PRS makes sure you get the money you’re owed when your work is distributed – no matter where and how it’s seen. Since being incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in 1983, ACTRA PRS has paid millions of dollars in Use Fees to artists. Over the past 13 years, ACTRA PRS has mailed out 493,483 cheques, putting $98 million directly in artists’ pockets. In 2014-15 alone, ACTRA PRS distributed more than 44,718 cheques to artists totalling more than $13 million. We remain true to our mission: tracking down the money you are owed and getting it to you quickly. We have professional staff and systems in place to track your work and Use Fees, and get tough with negligent producers. Bringing your money home is a tricky business, especially when the money is due from use outside of Canada. We’ve developed strong working relationships with our sister unions and collective management organizations around the globe through our membership in the International Federation of Actors (FIA) and Societies Council for the Collective Management of Performers’ Rights (SCAPR). And we are building the international tools to help collect money owed to you wherever your work is shown. We at ACTRA PRS keep getting better at what we do. We won’t be satisfied until we’ve met our goal of collecting every penny artists are owed. We’ll keep digging and pushing until we succeed. 8 www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs ACTRA PRS AND ACTRA RACS ARE BRINGING YOUR MONEY HOME TO YOU BY… •Transitioning to a new computer Use Fees System (UFS) in March 2015. The new system provides a more streamlined approach to achieve greater efficiencies in collecting and distributing monies; •Developing the first phase of a new ACTRA RACS database, ARTS 2.0; •Working closely with the stunt community including appointment of a dedicated stunt liaison and a stunt community communication, outreach and advocacy liaison; •Moving to direct deposit for artist payments. You will be provided with an electronic cheque report outlining where the money comes from when a direct deposit is made. Effective March 1, 2016, unless you are receiving your money through direct deposit, there will only be one physical cheque run per year; •Making direct deposit available to U.S. financial institutions to U.S.-based artists; •Moving to paperless for ACTRA RACS online registrations; •Providing up-to-date information on the Minors’ Trust, including new online access for parents, guardians and minors; issuance of tax slips each calendar year; and an alert to parents by ACTRA PRS staff regarding any payments over $10,000 that are to be received by a minor upon reaching the age of 18; •Providing options to redirect Use Fee payments where you want them – to you, your representative, Creative Arts Savings & Credit Union (CASCU) or another financial institution; •Offering members guidance in estate planning including completing beneficiary paperwork to redirect funds efficiently and accurately; •Adding“Most Recent Productions Paid Out by ACTRA PRS” feature to ACTRA PRS website, which allows performers, agents and ACTRA branches to see what titles ACTRA PRS distributes on a month by month basis. 9 ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 WORKING A Message FOR fromYOU your President How we bring your money home. To you. 1. ACTRA PRS CLAIMS OFFICER REQUESTS REPORTING FROM THE PRODUCER 2. CLAIMS OFFICER STAYS ON TOP OF PRODUCER UNTIL REPORTING IS PROVIDED 3. PRODUCER SENDS REPORTING OF SALES AND ANY FUNDS OWED TO ARTISTS TO ACTRA PRS 4. ACTRA PRS CLAIMS STAFF CONFIRMS REPORTING, PROCESSES ANY FUNDS OWED AND BEGINS DISBURSEMENT PROCESS 5. ACTRA PRS CLAIMS STAFF PROCESSES THOUSANDS OF PAYMENTS FROM SALES SHARES AND DISTRIBUTES TO ARTISTS IN TIMELY FASHION For more information about the fees you get for the use of your work, visit http://www.actra. ca/main/prs/usefee-payments/ INTERNATIONAL RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS ACTRA PRS continues to negotiate international reciprocal agreements for audio and audiovisual works. Audiovisual agreements have been signed with Spain, Colombia, Peru and the United Kingdom, with an additional eight new agreements with other countries currently in negotiation. Ten new audio agreements have been signed with countries such as Germany and France. 10 www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 REACHING OUT: Beyond Borders NEW MEDIA ACTRA agreements ensure artists are compensated for the use of their work on ALL screens, big, small and mobile. Many ACTRA artists are now enjoying Use Fee payments from New Media sales. In fact, many artists are now seeing payment for use in New Media within the four-year prepayment period, given that ACTRA’s IPA ensures artists receive payment from first dollar for any use of product in New Media. Here are a few recent examples: SMURFS (2012) In 2014, 46 artists shared approximately $90,000 in Use Fee payments for distribution in New Media. RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE (2010) In 2014, 82 artists shared in approximately $72,000 in Use Fee payments for distribution in New Media. NATIONAL FILM BOARD WHITE HOUSE DOWN (2012) Use Fee payments for distribution in New Media amounted to approximately $71,000 shared by 201 artists in 2014. The NFB continues to lead the way in New Media by digitizing its archives and launching a video-on-demand program in collaboration with CanadaScreens.ca in 2015. Since launching its vast collection of awardwinning productions and documentaries online, artists have shared in almost $600,000 thanks to a whole new generation of audience members who otherwise might not been exposed to this work. As a result of this initiative, eight artists have shared in $5,200 for Paper Wheat (1979) while 20 artists have shared in approximately $11,000 for Places Not Our Own (1986). www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs 11 ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 ACTRA PRS Hall of Fame ACTRA PRS is also happy to share the long-term success of Canadian television production both here at home and internationally – it just so happens that Canadian children’s shows appear to have ongoing interest from audiences around the world! The titles listed below – some of which originally began airing almost 15 years ago – are considered our ‘Hall of Famers’ for their broadcast longevity, which translates into ongoing income sources for ACTRA PRS artists. Sue Thomas F.B. Eye (2002-2004): to date, 627 artists have shared in $556,000 in Use Fee payments for their work. Latest Buzz (2007-2008): Use Fee payments for this animated production have totalled $96,000 shared by 151 artists to date. Super Why (2004-2014): to date, 171 artists have shared in $153,000 in Use Fee payments for this animated production. The Societies’ Council for the Collective Management of Performers’ Rights (SCAPR) is the international body that represents the collective management organizations (CMOs) responsible for promoting the co-operation between countries when exchanging monies across borders. Brad Keenan, Director of ACTRA PRS and ACTRA RACS, sits on the board of SCAPR as Chairman. ACTRA is looking forward to hosting delegates from all over the world in Toronto for the SCAPR General Assembly from May 24 to 27, 2016. 12 www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 NEW! WANT TO SEE WHAT PRODUCTIONS HAVE BEEN PAID OUT? CHECK OUT THE ACTRA PRS WEBSITE TODAY. ACTRA PRS has updated its website with a new feature allowing artists, agents and ACTRA branches to see which productions ACTRA PRS has paid out each month. Artists and agents are invited to visit the ACTRA PRS homepage and click on the text “Most Recent Productions Paid Out by ACTRA PRS”. They will be taken to a new page that lists the months in which payments were made to artists. By clicking on a specific month, artists and agents can view an alphabetical list of all titles disbursed that month. This feature allows artists and agents to see what productions were disbursed, so they can track payments. It also helps branches stay informed about the payments artists are receiving and track which productions from their region are making money for the artists they represent. Just another way ACTRA PRS is working to serve you better! www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs 13 Photo credit: Duane Dickinson FAST TRACK YO U R P R S PAY M E N T S ! Laura Lee Connery Stunt performer/ stunt driver Sign up for Direct Deposit today. ACTRA Performers’ Rights Society is switching gears! Sign up for direct deposit now at actra.ca/prs. Save some trees and know that you’ll get your money faster and directly into your account. Effective March 1, 2016, unless you are receiving your money through direct deposit, there will only be one physical cheque run per year. If you receive your cheques through your agent, don’t worry as TAMAC agents are on board. Photo credit: Postmedia News Questions? Email us at prs@actra.ca ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS about the direct deposit of your ACTRA PRS money When do I need to sign up for direct deposit? The sooner, the better. As of March 1, 2016, ACTRA PRS will be reducing physical cheque runs to one time per year. Until then, we’ll be working hard to ensure as many artists as possible are signed up for direct deposit. We’re here to help. And it’s quick and easy to sign up! My ACTRA PRS cheques go directly to my agent. Will that change? Not at all. If your ACTRA PRS cheques come to you via your agent, no need to take any action. TAMAC agencies are on board and we’re rolling out a plan to have your cheques directly deposited to your agent by the end of summer 2015. The only thing that will change is that the payments will be deposited electronically into your agent’s account, eliminating the paper cheque. We are working closely with agents to make sure this transition is seamless. In the meantime, if your ACTRA PRS cheque goes to your agent, don’t worry about signing up for direct deposit. Will I know if my money has been deposited? Definitely! Here’s how direct deposit works: #1 ACTRA PRS collects your money. #2 ACTRA PRS deposits your money directly from its account into your account. #3 Within about three days, you will get an email confirming that a deposit has taken place, along with an attached report with all the details. Et voila! Why is direct deposit (to CASCU or other financial institutions) so important? First, you get your money faster. But you also get your money cheaper. Did you know it costs ACTRA PRS about $10 each time it issues a cheque? By signing up for direct deposit you’re helping us cut needless administrative costs dramatically. This then permits us to direct those savings back into tracking and collecting the money you are owed. Has anyone already signed up for direct deposit? Since ACTRA PRS launched direct deposit in October 2010, 2,820 artists have signed up. That’s allowed us to process 23,572 direct payments to artists, totalling over $4.5 million net. Can I receive direct deposit payments into my U.S. bank account? Yes! ACTRA PRS can provide payments to both Canadian and U.S. financial institutions. www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs 15 ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 Direct Deposit “ Signing up for direct deposit was the easiest decision I made – not only does it get my money to me faster, but I’ve also linked my payments to my Creative Arts Savings and Credit Union (CASCU) account to make managing my money even easier. And I’m still kept up-to-date with what I’m getting paid for from the email I’m sent after each direct deposit is made! “ Angelica Lisk-Hann Stunt coordinator/stunt performer 16 www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 ACTRA PRS WORKING WITH… Stunt Performers NEW! CASTINGSTUNTS.ca For that reason, ACTRA PRS has designated a staff person as Stunt Liaison – a ‘one-stop-shop’ for stunt performers looking for information. Got a question? Email stuntliaison@actra.ca; or call 416.644.1510 to speak with your Stunt Liaison. Another important connection between ACTRA PRS and the stunt community is Tania Cardwell, our dedicated Stunt Community Communication, Outreach and Advocacy Liaison. Tania is the community’s direct representative at ACTRA PRS and has full access, cooperation and freedom to research and investigate any issues that are brought to her attention. Tania Cardwell can be reached at 416.995.5227 (or toll-free 1.800.387.3516 ext. 4042) or by email tc@taniacardwell.com. Tania will bring any issues directly to ACTRA PRS for investigation. Photo credit: StuntList ACTRA PRS is excited that its ACTRA stunt members now have their own casting database! ACTRA developed CastingStunts.ca – a space where stunt coordinators can seek out professional stunt talent. Some conditions do apply, for example, performers need to have a minimum of six stunt credits under their belts to register. Check it out today! Stunt performers are an integral part of the ACTRA PRS family. They help create great TV and film. Every day. Stunt performers Lauro Chartrand and Ed Anders in a scene from the True Justice TV series www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs 17 ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 MINORS’ TRUST: Working for our Young Artists ACTRA youth artists and parents of youth artists, should you have any questions about the Trust please contact Patricia Lanca at planca@actra.ca or 416.489.1311 ext.5022. Protecting the unique interests of young artists is taken seriously at ACTRA. That’s why a Trust was created for minors in 1999 to ensure that after their initial $5,000 of earnings, a minimum of 25 per cent of a young artist’s earnings is still waiting for them when they turn 18. ACTRA PRS is very proud of the Minors’ Trust. We know how vulnerable young artists are and this is just another example of how we are here to serve our artists better. Together we are saving for our artists’ futures. “ As a parent with a child in ‘the business’, it’s up to me to ensure my daughter is protected not just today, but in the future. ACTRA’s carefully-negotiated agreements contain strong protections for child performers that include hours worked, tutoring and safety on set. Her financial future is also protected thanks to ACTRA PRS’s ‘Minors’ Trust’. I am thankful to know that ACTRA is only a phone call away if either of us get into trouble on set. “ Photo: Toby Humphreys Photography The current market value of the Minors’ Trust is over $6 million. That’s money “in the bank” for our young artists. Tia Forsythe Mother of actor Fiona Forsythe Now parents, minors or guardians can access their trust information online. Contact CASCU for more information at info@creativeartscu.com, phone 1.877.643.3660 or visit www.creativeartscu.com/prs 18 www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 FINANCIAL ASSURANCES: HELPING TO PROTECT ARTISTS We are often asked what insurance there is against a producer declaring bankruptcy or going belly-up before they have paid artists. Well, that’s where ‘Financial Assurances’ come in. In the IPA, producers are required to execute something called a “Security Agreement”. In legal terms, that’s a contract that “provides an interest in personal property that secures payment of an obligation”. The obligation, in ACTRA’s world, is the payment of Use Fees that become due from the exploitation – or re-use – of a production. Why should you care about Security Agreements? Because they allow ACTRA PRS to register a claim of personal property in the province of the producer’s head office, the province where the production is being shot and in Ontario, where ACTRA PRS is based. This registration is made against the producer’s property to guarantee ACTRA PRS’s position should the producer become financially non-viable and declare bankruptcy. In the 2014/ 2015 fiscal year, ACTRA PRS registered 632 security registrations. www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs 19 ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 ACTRA RECORDING ARTISTS’ COLLECTING SOCIETY WHAT IS ACTRA RACS It is a not-for-profit organization that has distributed over $62.5 million to the thousands of artists it represents in Canada and abroad. The artists it represents span all genres and range from session musicians to featured vocalists, emerging artists to household names. As a division of ACTRA, the national organization Brad Keenan and Ferne Downey - #We ValueMusic of 22,000 professional performers working in recorded media, we at ACTRA RACS understand the need to protect and develop the rights of artists. We value music and exist to ensure that recording artists are paid fairly for their work. WHAT WE DO The Copyright Act of Canada states that recording artists are entitled to be paid when their recordings are broadcast or played in public. We at ACTRA RACS have the privilege of ensuring that this money gets into your hands. The ACTRA RACS team is committed to making it easy for you to collect royalties for your work. Whether calculating payments, researching lineups or answering questions, our goal is to improve the service that we provide to you. We work hard so that you can spend more time doing what you do best: making great music. As a leading member of SCAPR (scapr.org), ACTRA RACS is engaged internationally. We at ACTRA RACS strive to develop new relationships with collectives around the world so we can continue developing your rights and maximizing your revenues. 20 www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs Photo credit: Tom Hope ACTRA RACS (Recording Artists’ Collecting Society) is the leading performer collective management organization in Canada dedicated to collecting and distributing neighbouring rights and private copying royalties to recording artists. ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 ACTRA RACS INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2014/2015 FISCAL YEAR WHAT WE PAY We at ACTRA RACS distribute monies that are based on neighbouring rights tariffs and the private copying levy. Tariffs result in licence fees that are charged for the use of recorded music in public and broadcast on radio. An example of the use of recorded music in public is music played in retail stores. Examples of broadcast on radio include plays on CBC or streaming radio. Private copying monies stem from the levy applied to certain types of blank media, such as CDs. In addition to domestic royalties, ACTRA RACS also collects from over 30 organizations worldwide to ensure that you are paid for your plays internationally. Thanks to Canadian artists’ strong presence on international charts and ACTRA RACS’s increasing relationships with foreign collective management organizations (CMOs), artists will see an increase in the amount of remuneration being distributed by ACTRA RACS from funds collected by foreign CMOs. •Signed 10 new agreements, PLAYRIGHT (Belgium), EEL (Estonia), SPEDIDAM (France), GVL (Germany), ITSRIGHT (Italy), LAIPA (Latvia), AGATA (Lithuania), SLOVGRAM (Slovakia), ZAVOD IPF (Slovenia) and FKMP (South Korea), bringing the total to over 30 international agreements that have been signed by ACTRA RACS for artists; •First distribution of funds collected from ADAMI (France) and GDA (Portugal) to ACTRA RACS artists; •Continued to play a role in developing best practices in artist rights management through participation in SCAPR working groups (Technical Work Group, Rights Administration Working Group and Legal Working Group); •Constantly updating audio and audiovisual artists’ information in SCAPR’s international databases to ensure artists are identified globally when money is owed to them. Being a recording artist today takes a lot of work. ACTRA RACS is here to help you manage your rights and allow you more time to continue recording music. It’s free to register with ACTRA RACS, so register today and start getting paid for your plays. www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs 21 ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 THANK YOU ACTRA RACS! “ “ACTRA RACS has always taken care of me as an artist through my career at every level. Having them collecting my rights as a performer allows me to go on stage every night and do what I love to do, and get compensated at the same time. “ Dallas Smith Canadian singer-songwriter 22 www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 ACTRA RACS HAS RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS AROUND THE GLOBE Albania: AKDIE (Agjensia e Administrimit Kolektiv e te Artisteve Interpretues/Ekzekutues) • http://www.akdie.org Belgium: PLAYRIGHT • http://www.playright.be Brazil: ABRAMUS (Associacao Brasslera De Musica E Artes) • http://www.abramus.org.br Croatia: HUZIP (Croatian Performers’ Right Collective Society) • http://www.huzip.hr Denmark: GRAMEX Denmark • http://www.gramex.dk Estonia: EEL (Estonian Performers Association) • http://www.eel.ee Finland: GRAMEX Finland (Copyright Society of Performing Artists and Phonogram Producers in Finland) • http://www.gramex.fi France: ADAMI (Société civile pour l’administration des Droits des Artistes et Musiciens interprètes) • http://www.adami.fr France: SPEDIDAM (Société de Perception et de Distribution des Droits des Artistes-Interprètes) • http://www.spedidam.fr Germany: GVL (Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten mbH) • https://www.gvl.de Greece: APOLLON (Music Rights Organisation Management) • http://www.apollon.org.gr Hungary: EJI (Association of the Arts Unions Bureau for the Protection of Performers’ Rights) • https://www.eji.hu Ireland: RAAP (Recorded Artists Actors Performers) • http://www.raap.ie Italy: Nuovo IMAIE (New Institute for the mutual protection of the rights of Performing Artists) • http://www.nuovoimaie.it Italy: ITSRIGHT • http://itsright.it/en Japan: GEIDANKYO/CPRA (Japan Council of Performers’ Organizations) • http://www.geidankyo.or.jp Latvia: LAIPA (Latvijas Izpildītāju un producentu apvienība) • http://www.laipa.org Lithuania: AGATA (Lithuanian Neighbouring Rights Association) • http://www.agata.lt/en Mexico: ANDI (Asociación Nacional de Intérpretes) • http://www.andi.com.mx Netherlands: SENA (Stichting ter Exploitatie van Naburige Rechten) • http://www.sena.nl Norway: GRAMO (Musikernes, Artistenes OG Plateselskapenes Vederlagsbyra • http://www.gramo.no Portugal: GDA (Management Rights Artists, Performers) • http://www.gda.pt Russia: VOIS (Russian Organization for Intellectual Property, Collective Management of the Performers’ and Phonogram Producers’ Rights) • http://www.rosvois.ru Serbia: PI (Prava Interpretatora) • http://www.pravainterpretatora.org Slovakia: SLOVGRAM (Independent Company of Performers and Producers Audio and Audio-Visual Recordings) • http://www.slovgram.sk Slovenia: ZAVOD IPF (Zavod za uveljavljanje pravic izvajalcev in proizvajalcev fonogramov Slovenije) • https://www.ipf.si South Korea: FKMP (Federation of Korean Music Performers) • http://www.fkmp.kr Spain: AIE (Artistas Interpretes Ejecutantes) • http://www.aie.es Sweden: SAMI (The Swedish Artists’ and Musicians’ Interest Organization) • http://www.sami.se Ukraine: OBERIH • http://www.oberih.org United Kingdom: PPL (Phonographic Performance Ltd) • http://www.ppluk.com USA: SOUNDEXCHANGE • http://www.soundexchange.com USA: AFM & SAG-AFTRA (The AFM and SAG-AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund) • http://www.raroyalties.org www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs 23 ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 ACTRA RACS ARTISTS’ SPOTLIGHT 2015: ACTRA RACS Salutes Rush With more than 40 million records sold worldwide and countless sold-out tours, Rush – Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart – is not only one of the most inventive and compelling groups in rock history, but remains one of the most popular. The RIAA® has certified Rush for the third most consecutive gold/platinum studio albums by a rock band, topped only by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Rush’s vast catalog includes such classics as 1974’s self-titled debut, 1976’s 2112, 1981’s Moving Pictures, 1996’s Test For Echo, and 2002’s Vapor Trails. Rush released their 20th studio album, Clockwork Angels, in 2012 via Anthem/Roadrunner Records. The highly anticipated collection marks the group’s first studio recording since 2007’s Snakes & Arrows, and debuted at #1 in Canada and #2 on the Billboard 200, matching the highest chart debut of the band’s career. In addition to their commercial success, Rush has also been recognized with a number of Juno Awards and multiple Grammy® nominations, including one for the acclaimed documentary “Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage.” Enjoying a recent pop culture renaissance, Rush made a rare television 24 Sign up for the ACTRA RACS e-newsletter at www.actra.ca/racs for more information and spotlights on ACTRA RACS artists. appearance – their first in over 30 years – on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” and a memorable cameo in the film “I Love You, Man.” Most recently, Rush has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This year, Canada’s national newspaper The Globe & Mail called Rush “one of the few bands anywhere that just keeps getting better”. A career-chronicling Rolling Stone feature summed up the renowned rock trio’s continuing artistic vitality by observing, “It’s true that Rush doesn’t mean today what it did in ’76 or even ’96. It may mean more.” Rush.com @rushtheband Facebook.com/rushtheband ACTRA RACS congratulates Rush on being the recipient of the 2015 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award, which was presented to the group at the 2015 Juno Awards Gala and Dinner on March 15, 2015. The Allan Waters Humanitarian Award recognizes outstanding Canadian artists whose contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada. www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 Photo credit: Michi Waddell CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK PANEL DISCUSSION Wendy Lands, voiceover actor and singer (ACTRA member and ACTRA RACS artist) www.wendylands.com, and Brad Keenan (Director of ACTRA RACS) Canadian Music Week, which took place in Toronto from May 1-10, 2015, brings together sound recording, New Media and broadcast for a week of spectacular events including conferences, a cuttingedge trade exhibition, award shows, film festival, comedy festival and the country’s biggest New Music Festival. ACTRA RACS’s Director, Brad Keenan, was front and centre in the discussions on behalf of our artists. Brad was part of a four-person panel discussion on ‘The Importance of Neighbouring Rights’, which focused on performance rights that are attached to sound recordings as a source of revenues for record labels and artists and how to maximize these revenue streams in an increasingly global market. ACTRA RACS offers Canadian artists and their families this exclusive health and dental plan. ACTRA artists worked with the ACTRA Fraternal Benefit Society (AFBS) to create the Arts & Entertainment Plan®, which offers comprehensive health, drug, dental, life and travel insurance. Coverage is guaranteed and no medical exam is required for this cost-effective plan (with rates starting from $74/month) that covers everything from vision care, hospital rooms, massage and acupuncture – designed by artists for artists to help fill in the gaps of provincial health care coverage. http://www. artsandentertainmentplan.ca Artists represented by ACTRA RACS are also eligible to apply for music equipment coverage through Front Row. http://www. frontrowinsurance.com/ ACTRA RACS SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON RAINE MAIDA’S AND CHANTAL KREVIAZUK’S ORDER OF CANADA APPOINTMENT Canadian music and humanitarian heavyweights Raine Maida and Chantal Kreviazuk were jointly appointed to the Order of Canada in 2014. The Juno and Much Music Video Awardwinning Maida founded the group Our Lady Peace in 1992 before moving onto a solo career as songwriter, performer and producer. Singer-songwriter Kreviazuk, who has two Juno Awards to her name, continues to write and perform her own music in addition to a successful career writing for top sound recording artists. www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs 25 FINANCIALS SUMMARY BALANCE SHEET AS AT FEBRUARY 28, 2015 20152014 Current Assets$986,893 $1,152,010 Investments$541,920 $511,495 Trust Assets $13,908,280$14,470,376 $15,437, 093 $16,133,881 Current Liabilities$424,049 $706,565 Trust Liabilities$13,908,280 $14,470,376 Net Assets$1,104,764 $956,940 $15,437,093$16,133,881 NOTES Summary Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2015. For a full understanding or analysis of ACTRA Performers’ Rights Society’s financial affairs, please refer to the full financial statements, the Auditor’s Report on these statements and the Director’s Report. The audit of ACTRA PRS’s financial statements was conducted by Clarke Henning LLP independent auditors. The full financial statements can be found on the ACTRA PRS website: www.actra.ca/main/prs 26 www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 SUMMARY OF INCOME AND EXPENSES AS AT FEBRUARY 28, 2015 INCOME TOTAL 20152014 Services Charges $1,092,738$876,001 Interest $170,061 Administration Fees $207,370 $1,787,311$1,658,073 Contribution from IPA NKA Funds $263,353$353,864 $3,313,463 EXPENSES Administrative $3,095,308 20152014 $2,287,875 $2,267,319 Operating $675,370$642,589 Professional $202,394 $310,611 $3,165,639$3,220,519 EXCESS (DEFICIENCY OF INCOME) OVER EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR $147,824($125,211) www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs 27 ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 Your ACTRA PRS Board of Directors 28 FERNE DOWNEY PRESIDENT ALVIN SANDERS VICE PRESIDENT THERESA TOVA TREASURER RICHARD HARDACRE PAST PRESIDENT DON AST MEMBER RICK BOLAND MEMBER CARY LAWRENCE MEMBER JODI SADOWSKY MEMBER DAVID SPARROW MEMBER www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs ACTRA PRS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 2015 Your ACTRA PRS staff National Executive Director Stephen Waddell Director Brad Keenan Administrative Assistant Anisha Gliddon Manager Anna Bucci Assistant Director Max Wagner Bookkeeper Jacqueline McCullagh International Coordinator Kortnee Borden ACTRA PRS Claims Department Senior Claims Officer Claims Officer Claims Administrator Research Analyst Administrator Data Processing Clerks Administrative Assistant Jessica Paes Tony Walsh Judy Land Adela Sas Patricia Lanca Beverly Calder Alison Lall Lori Seaward ACTRA RACS Administrators Christine Allenby Andrew Karis Michi Waddell Lee-Anne Wielonda www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs 29 ACTRA PRS ACTRA RACS 625 Church Street, 3rd floor, Toronto, Ontario M4Y 2G1 Phone 1.800.387.3516 or 416.489.1311 Fax 416.489.1040 www.actra.ca/prs www.actra.ca/racs Follow us on Twitter! @ACTRARACS Like us on Facebook