In Memoriam: Fernando Brant

UBC and the CISAC family is mourning the premature loss of its President Fernando Brant, a legendary composer who, for more than 20 years, has led UBC, the home of Brazilian composers.

Fernando Brant wrote songs that, since the end of the 1960’s became the anthems of generations.  He wrote hundreds of songs that go beyond time and across borders, and that talk about life and love, nature and relationships.

In addition to the phenomenal popularity that his talent brought him, Brant spearheaded UBC’s fight to protect creators’ rights. Ethics, justice and truth guided him for as long as he served in the role of UBC’s President. At the helm of UBC, he dedicated his time, intelligence, political skills and knowledge to the building of a framework that supports and protects creators and their works.  

The policy environment in Brazil today is a testimony to the many battles that Fernando Brant successfully fought and won, as evidenced in the many court decisions which support creators. There is no doubt that Fernando Brant played a key role in this legislative success. Yet there is a lot to be done with the many ideas that Fernando Brant expressed and with the strategies he defined. As UBC’s President, he, together with his fellow members of the Board, led the organization through change, smoothly and wisely, building a society that became accredited and respected within the CISAC community; a society prepared for the new world of the music business, fit for the 21st century.

CISAC Board of Directors Chairperson Eric Baptiste said:

"I am very saddened by the brutal passing of legendary creator Fernando Brant. Besides his career as a celebrated composer who worked for and with the greatest, as Chairman of UBC, Fernando was a tireless champion of creators' rights. He is leaving the stage at a time when Brazil is claiming its rightful place in the world of collective management, something he was deservedly proud of. He will be missed by his admirers around the world but especially by us, in the CISAC community, who knew him as more than a talented composer but a true authors' right hero."

CISAC Director General Gadi Oron stated:

“The loss of Fernando Brant came as a shock.  Fernando worked tirelessly to herald creators’ interests locally and internationally, and to protect and promote what is most precious to them: the ability to create and to get paid for it. Through his hard work and selfless dedication, he helped create an environment that is tilting the balance in favour of authors. In the name of CISAC, I express my profound sadness and most sincere condolences to his family, his friends, his colleagues, and to the millions of his fans in Brazil and around the world.”