An Open Letter to Performers, Published on Behalf of Thousands of Photographers
Restrictive concert photography contracts have been a big story in the photo world over the past several months. Taylor Swift, the Foo Fighters, Dweezil Zappa, and Janet Jackson have all made headlines for their extremely strict — and often rights-grabbing — contracts that photographers and reporters must sign before covering a concert.
Now a number of the media industry’s biggest associations and organizations have published an open letter to performers on behalf of thousands of photographers and journalists in the United States.
“As performers have become increasingly vocal about protecting their intellectual property rights, far too many are at the same time exploiting those who visually report on them through onerous credentialing restrictions,” the letter says.
“It’s patently offensive to demand the absolute right to both use our members’ work for the performer’s direct benefit and to demand the absolute right to run our business by reserving editorial control.”
The groups are requesting to have a meaningful conversation with artists to create agreements that are beneficial to all parties involved.
Image credits: Header photo by James Murray
