UBC Hits a Record High: 925 Million BRL Distributed in 2024
RIO DE JANEIRO. Brazil’s music market had a landmark year in 2024, setting new records for both collections and distributions of copyright royalties. Ecad, the central collection agency, pulled in 1.83 billion Brazilian reals (BRL) —up 12% from 2023. Of the total 1.483 billion BRL distributed by all collective management societies in the Ecad system, UBC alone accounted for nearly 925 million BRL, representing over 62% of the total. That marks a 17% jump in UBC’s own distributions compared to the previous year.
These numbers are part of UBC’s newly released 2024 Annual Report, which offers a deeper dive into who received what and where the money came from:
- 30,610 Brazilian rightsholders received payments in 2024
- 212,529 international rightsholders were also paid, thanks to UBC’s partnerships with foreign societies
- Copyright royalties (for composers and publishers) collected in Brazil made up the bulk of UBC’s distributions: 769.2 million BRL
- Neighbouring rights (for performers and record producers) collected in Brazil totaled 145.5 million BRL
- Royalties collected abroad for UBC members reached 9.76 million BRL, most of which (9.51 million BRL) were copyright-related
Through ongoing investment in technology, UBC was able to release an impressive 121.6 million BRL in previously withheld credits —funds that benefited thousands of rightsholders.
“Our results keep pushing us forward,” said UBC’s CEO Marcelo Castello Branco. “We’re committed to investing in tools and technology that make our work more transparent and efficient. Our mission is clear: to better represent those who trust us, to protect and expand their rights, and to open more doors for their music and productions.”
COO Fabio Geovane echoed that message:
“The sheer volume of data we handle forces us to stay ahead. That’s why we’ve upgraded our systems and started requiring more documentation to validate the information we receive. Our goal is to make sure only rightful owners can register works and collect what they’re owed. We’ll keep investing to ensure that happens.”