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The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and 1,200 U.S. record companies, including the five majors, have reached an agreement wherein all recording artists under contract will receive health insurance. The agreement is being forwarded to the union's Health & Retirement Funds Board of Trustees for expected approval and then to the AFTRA membership for final ratification. The AFTRA Sound Recordings Code covers both royalty artists and session vocalists performing on sound recordings. The artists—who will still have to pay a quarterly premium of $250—do not need to be AFTRA members to receive coverage.



Morgan Stanley will handle the sale of Warner/Chappell, Time Warner's music publishing unit. Time Warner is expected to divest the business, valued at $1.2 billion, through a formal auction. Sony Music, along with several private equity firms, are reportedly among the suitors.

Webcast royalty collection group SoundExchange confirmed Sept. 30 that it has split from the Recording Industry Assn. of America and is now an independent organization. The move leaves the rights body controlled by a board comprising nine label executives and nine artists or their representatives. SoundExchange, formed in 2000 as an unincorporated division of the RIAA, says it has distributed nearly $10 million in royalties for digital music performances. SoundExchange remains helmed by president/executive director John Simson.



The annual VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards have been discontinued due to declining ratings. The awards show began in 1996 as the VH1 Fashion Awards, giving honors for style and career achievements to people in the music and fashion industries. VH1 joined forces with Vogue in 1999 to present the awards ceremony. According to Nielsen Media Research, the awards show's U.S. household ratings peaked in 1998 with a 0.9 rating/2 share (1.2 million viewers), and hit an all-time low in 2002 with a 0.5 rating/1 share (833,000 viewers). Vogue will still be involved in a VH1 "All Access" special airing Nov. 15.

Warren N. Lieberfarb, known in the home video industry as the "father of DVD," has joined the board of directors for the satellite radio company Sirius. Lieberfarb is expected to apply his insights about bringing the video industry into the digital age to Sirius' business model. Lieberfarb most recently served as president of Warner Home Video and is currently head of consultant firm WNL Associates.