FAQS FOR PODCASTERS

Yes! You can continue to work on most podcasts during the strike, but there are some rules you need to keep in mind.

• Guests: Appearing as a guest on any podcast to promote struck work is not allowed under any circumstances. This includes promotion of work you did in the past. Remember, past work is just as important to the streamers’ bottom lines as upcoming work. Streaming services are putting performers’ work on their platforms to exist there forever without letting the performers share in the revenue they are receiving as a result of having an endless supply of content that performers like you made possible.  

• Hosts: If you are under contract, you should honor your contract. If you self-produce your podcast, do not promote struck work - past, current, or upcoming - as part of your podcast. If you are unsure whether your podcast is affected by this rule, please reach out to podcastcontracts@sagaftra.org.

• Yes, these podcasts are considered promotional. Rewatch and companion shows may drive listeners to find and watch the shows promoted by your podcast. 

• You should honor any pre-existing contracts but, if a contract is not involved, don’t promote struck work. Hosts and guests can talk about their personal lives or union activism or how the strike is affecting them or the state of the industry, but not about work for struck employers.

SAG-AFTRA fully appreciates the importance and reach of the work you do in the podcast space, which is why we need you to stand with us to stop promoting work that benefits the companies we are on strike against. Gains in the TV/Theatrical contracts set the standard for all other contracts in this industry. We must all work together to win a fair contract as quickly as possible.

We understand that you must honor your pre-existing contractual obligations. If your contract or influence allows you the flexibility to adjust your show’s content for the duration of the strike so that it is no longer promotional of struck work, SAG-AFTRA and your listeners would see that as an incredible show of solidarity with the performers on the shows your podcast typically promotes.

Members should not accept any new contract to host a show that promotes struck work while the union is on strike.

• SAG-AFTRA Podcast Agreements are not covered by the strike order. You are free to continue hosting your podcast that is signed to one of our agreements, but if you are able to pivot your show away from the promotion of struck work, we strongly encourage you to do so. We are all in this fight together.

• The same rule barring promotion of struck work applies to any guests you may have on your show.

Many non-member podcasters are eager to show their support of our members during our fight for fair compensation and protections, whether they intend to become SAG-AFTRA members or not, but non-members are not bound by the rules our members must honor. Any efforts these podcasters make to limit their discussion of struck work is much appreciated and is a wonderful and powerful expression of solidarity.

It is also important to note that any non-member seeking future membership in SAG-AFTRA who performs covered work or services for a struck company during the strike will not be admitted into membership in SAG-AFTRA. See Strike Notice and Order.

Any show or film, past, current, or upcoming, that was or would have been covered by our
TV/Theatrical Agreements is considered struck work, unless that project appears on our Interim
Agreement list. This includes classic movies and shows.

Please reach out to us with any questions at podcastcontracts@sagaftra.org.