CISAC: ‘Each individual society should decide on whether to maintain their business relationships with Russian societies.’ – Music Business Worldwide

Last week, a number of entities in the global music business announced that they were cutting ties with Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.

All three major music companies (Universal, Sony, and Warner), as well as Kobalt and Downtown, have also in the past fortnight confirmed that they are suspending business activity in/with Russia.

One of the entities to cut ties with Russia includes UK collection society PRS for Music.

PRS revealed earlier this month (March 8) that it had “formally suspended, with immediate effect,” its rights representation agreement with its Russia-based counterpart, the Russian Authors’ Society RAO.

Following the news about PRS pulling out of Russia, many in the music business were asking why the org, which represents the rights of over 160,000 songwriters/composers and music publishers around the world, decided to act unilaterally, rather being part of an organized global effort to do so.

One senior leader of the US music publishing market told us: “I can’t believe this has to be done unilaterally [by PRS] and that CISAC can’t just kick RAO out already… it’s really just wild at this point.”

CISAC, the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers – the world’s largest international network of authors’ societies – still counts Russia’s RAO as one of its members, and according to a statement issued by the org last week, that’s not changing.

Within the statement, CISAC said that “royalty flows between societies and Russian CMOs have already ceased due to financial and banking sanctions”.

“While abhorring the actions of the Russian armed forces, CISAC is not empowered to impose sanctions on member societies based only on the  actions of their government.” 

CISAC

The statement which strongly condemns Russia’s acts of war in Ukraine, adds that, “after careful consideration, the CISAC Board has decided that each individual society should decide on whether to maintain their business relationships with Russian societies, and what the terms of any relationship should be”.

In other words: RAO will not be kicked out of CISAC, and like PRS, societies around the world will need to to make a unilateral decision to take action if they so wish.

PRS isn’t the only org to just do that. US-based BMI, which has an international reciprocal collections deal in place with PRS, has also confirmed it is cutting ties with RAO.

The Italian Society of authors and Composers, SIAE, also decided to stop payments to RAO.

In addition to PRS and RAO, CISAC’s members include the likes of ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GEMA, STIM, SACEM and SOCAN.

Adds CISAC in its new statement: “As a global confederation representing 228 members  in over 120 countries, CISAC’s actions have to balance and reflect many diverse viewpoints.

“While abhorring the actions of the Russian armed forces, CISAC is not empowered to impose sanctions on member societies based only on the  actions of their government.” 

It continues: “CISAC is passionately dedicated to supporting creators in Ukraine and to bringing whatever pressure it can to stop the brutal invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

“This action is an indefensible attack on the innocent, and is an assault on  culture and creators everywhere, including those in Russia. Russian authors, just as their counterparts elsewhere, cannot be blamed for the grotesque actions of their government.”

CISAC also announced this month (March 9) that it was launching a support fund dedicated to helping the victims of the war in Ukraine – but once again stopped short at suspending RAO.

The fund was approved by the CISAC Board.

The body said it was the first step in a wider initiative called “Creators for Ukraine”, under which it aims to “unite the global creative community in support of creators and refugees forced to flee the country”.

You can read the full statement issued by CISAC below:

CISAC’s global network of authors societies deplores and condemns the war waged by the Russian government against the Ukrainian population. Our entire community is working to help our fellow Ukrainian creators and colleagues and  provide aid to the victims of the war. 

On March 9 CISAC launched a global aid campaign “Creators for Ukraine”. This is led by a fund to help creators and  refugees and to support the continued operation of Ukraine’s authors societies. Another project, “Songs for Ukraine”, aims to promote Ukrainian repertoire on broadcasting and digital platforms, to increase royalties to Ukraine’s creative  community that is being ravaged by the war. 

When it comes to CISAC members’ business relationships with Russia, royalty flows between societies and Russian CMOs have already ceased due to financial and banking sanctions. After careful consideration, the CISAC Board has decided that each individual society should decide on whether to maintain their business relationships with Russian societies, and what the terms of any relationship should be.

As a global confederation representing 228 members in over 120 countries, CISAC’s actions have to balance and reflect many diverse viewpoints. While abhorring the actions of the Russian armed forces, CISAC is not empowered to impose sanctions on member societies based only on the actions of their government. 

CISAC is passionately dedicated to supporting creators in Ukraine and to bringing whatever pressure it can to stop the brutal invasion of Ukraine by Russia. This action is an indefensible attack on the innocent, and is an assault on culture and creators everywhere, including those in Russia. Russian authors, just as their counterparts elsewhere, cannot be blamed for the grotesque actions of their government.Music Business Worldwide