SUISA members demand recognition in the digital world

In the Membership Manifesto issued at today’s General Meeting, SUISA members demand recognition of their rights, especially in the digital sphere. SUISA is the Swiss Cooperative

Society for Authors and Publishers of Music: in the 2011 financial year, it distributed CHF 9 out of every CHF 10 (88,05%) collected in revenues to its members. Administration costs totalled 11.95%. Three new members were elected to the Board: Irene Kunzelmann, Christian Siegenthaler and Christian Wicky.

Bern, 23 June 2012 – At SUISA’s General Meeting on 23 June 2012 in Bern, the cooperative society issued a  ”Membership Manifesto“. In this declaration of principles, SUISA members demand that the value of their work be recognised, especially in the digital sphere. Following its publication today, signatures will continue to be collected for the Manifesto at www.suisa.ch/suisamanifesto. In a nutshell, the signatories of the Cooperative Society for Authors and Publishers of Music declare that:

  • SUISA is a cooperative society and works for authors and publishers;
  • SUISA’s members are entitled to decide if and how their works can be used, even in the digital world;
  • right-holders are entitled to remuneration for the use of their works, and must receive a share of the revenues generated from the use of their works by third parties;
  • authors and publishers demand a legal framework capable of protecting their work against piracy, theft or unauthorised usage.


The need to join forces in order to defend mutual interests was one of the main themes of the General Meeting and was presented by Géraldine Savary, member of the Council of States and of SUISA’s Board.  Various federations and associations sent representatives or organised information stands, including: suisseculture, the Swiss Music Council, the Swiss Alliance against Internet Piracy, Verein Musikschaffende Schweiz and the Fondation romande pour la Chanson et les Musiques Actuelles (FCMA).

CHF 9 in every CHF 10 of revenue distributed

In the 2011 financial year, SUISA collected tariff revenues totalling CHF 136.2mn, of which it distributed 88,05%, or CHF 119.9mn, to authors and publishers. Total turnover for the year reached CHF 145.2mn (+2% compared with the prior year). Income from performance and broadcasting rights reached CHF 103.4mn in 2011, exceeding the CHF 100mn mark for the first time. These record results are mainly due to concerts, which had a strong year thanks to a number of large-scale events. Income from record licensing declined 12.2% in the reporting year, however, and the levy on media carriers such as CDs, DVDs and MP3 players fell by as much as 33.2%. Administration costs were nonetheless contained at 11.95% on average.

Election of three new Board members
In the elections held to replace the outgoing Board members, Irene Kunzelmann, producer and publisher Christian Siegenthaler and musician and composer Christian Wicky were elected to the Board. The resigning members were Beat Lüthi, Jean-Pierre Mathez and Thierry Mauley-Fervant.


Link to the 2011 Annual Report
Link to the Membership Manifesto
Press release

Contact
Martin Wüthrich, Media Relations, +41 44 485 65 03


About SUISA
SUISA is the cooperative society of composers, lyricists and publishers of music in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Its 30 000 members represent all the musical walks of life. SUISA represents the repertoire of two million authors worldwide in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It licenses the world repertoire to over 90 000 clients.

SUISA employs 200 people in its offices in Zurich, Lausanne and Lugano, and realises a turnover of CHF 140 million. As a not-for-profit association, it passes on its licensing revenues, after deducting a cost coverage contribution, to authors and publishers of music.

Philippe Saire

"The SSA takes great care in analysing the author's creative process and often anticipates the needs that may arise when an author asserts his rights."