CISAC celebrates 70th anniversary of Mexican authors’ society SACM

Prestigious guests from the Mexican creative community, including Maestro Armando Manzanero, along with high-ranking government officials, including Senator Javier Lozano and Mexico City’s Governor Miguel Mancera, and authors’ societies executives from all across Latin America met in Mexico City to celebrate SACM’s seven decade-long commitment to authors’ rights.

Also attending the event, CISAC Director General Gadi Oron gave an opening speech, applauding the dedication of SCAM to Mexican creators.

“SACM is one of the oldest societies in the world, and certainly one of the oldest in Latin America. Under the vision of such Maestros as Agustin Lara, Roberto Cantoral and, today, the incomparable Armando Manzanero, SACM has become one of the largest and most efficient authors' societies in the world, with a remarkable team led by Roberto Cantoral (son).”

The country of Mexico has a rich and fascinating cultural heritage, which is going back centuries.  Today, the country is influential not only in music – with such celebrated songs as Besame mucho, La cucaracha, Cielito lindo, La bamba and El reloj, but also in literature, architecture, visual arts and audiovisual.  It is one of the few countries in the world to have won the Oscar for best movie two years in a row (world-acclaimed film directors Alfonso Cuaron and Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu).

Mr Oron also pointed out the significant economic value created by Mexican creators for the country:  

“Let’s remember that all of the famous and popular music, TV shows, films - that were made here in Mexico – do not only represent culture. They also represent revenues. They represent jobs. They represent economic growth. All of these creative works play their part in the overall economic development of the country. Creativity is not only about cultural power, but also about economic power.  And this is exactly why creativity, and creators, need to be protected.” 

Over its 70-year long history, SACM has succeeded in establishing a unified and collective voice for Mexican creators.  Back in 2009, it created the “Coalition for Legal Access to Culture”, a grouping of 38 associations that promotes copyright as a human right.  As a result, SACM has managed to obtain the longest term of protection for copyright in the world: 100 years after the author’s death. 

SACM was founded by a group of authors and composers led by Maestro Alfonso Esparza Oteo who established the Sindicato Mexicano de Autores, Compositores y Editores de Música (SMACEM) back in 1945.  Today, SACM is chaired by the Cantotaur Armando Manzanero, alongside Chief Executive Roberto Cantoral.

A press conference will be held tomorrow to address the growing concerns about the online protection of creative works and the remuneration of authors.

Stay tuned for updates on our website, Twitter and Facebook. 

See more the coverage of the event (in Spanish): 

Sociedad de Autores y Compositores festeja sus 70 años

Rivera Velázquez reconoce labor de SACM por derechos autorales

Jay de la Cueva festeja siete décadas de la SACM

Celebran compositores siete décadas de lucha por sus derechos

Autores y compositores piden proteger derechos de autor en internet

Fotos de la Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de México celebrando su aniversario numero 70

Video: Once Noticias - Celebran 70 años de la Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de México