Latin American Composers and Songwriters Unite in Mexico City for ALCAM General Assembly

Founded in 2012 to defend the rights of composers and songwriters in Latin America, Alianza Latinoamericana de compositores y autores de música (ALCAM) held its General Assembly on 12-13 November in Mexico City at SACM. International Council of Music Authors (CIAM) President Lorenzo Ferrero and CISAC Repertoires and Creators Relations Director Silvina Munich participated along with Music Creators North America Co-Chair Rick Carnes and Ivan Garcia-Pelayo of the CIAM Executive Committee. The assembly saw the election of the new ALCAM Board for a four-year term along with approval of its working plan. Alejandro Guarello (Chile) was elected President, Juca Novaes (Brazil) as Vice President, Luis Monge (Costa Rica) as Treasurer and Diego Drexler (Uruguay) as Secretary.

Mexican songwriters and Grammy Award-winners Mónica Velez and Carlos Lara joined ALCAM. Both were organisers of a key discussion between ALCAM representatives, CIAM Executive Committee members and local young composers and songwriters who participated in a successful songwriters school initiative led by Mónica Velez.

Rallying songwriters and composers, Mónica Velez declared,

"Alone we are invisible, together we are invincible”.

Discussions at the assembly included the use of works on digital platforms as well as fair remuneration and protections in the digital era.