ACINPRO (Asociación Colombiana de Intérpretes y Productores Fonográficos)

ACINPRO (Asociación Colombiana de Intérpretes y Productores Fonográficos) is a Colombian collective management organization that protects and administers the neighboring rights of performers and phonogram producers. Founded in 1982 in Medellín, it is the only organization recognized by Colombia's National Copyright Office (Dirección Nacional de Derecho de Autor) to collect royalties for artists, performers, and record producers whose recorded music is played publicly.

How ACINPRO Works

ACINPRO operates differently from traditional PROs like ASCAP or BMI. Instead of representing songwriters and composers (which is handled by SAYCO in Colombia), ACINPRO represents the performers who appear on recordings and the producers who finance those recordings. These are called neighboring rights or related rights.

When a business in Colombia plays recorded music publicly (restaurants, bars, retail stores, radio stations, television), two separate royalties are generated: one for the composition (collected by SAYCO) and one for the recording itself (collected by ACINPRO). ACINPRO issues blanket licenses to establishments and collects fees that are then distributed to its members based on usage data.

The organization also serves as Colombia's local ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) agency since 2022, assigning unique identifiers to sound recordings. Through the Sayco Acinpro Organization (OSA), both societies coordinate joint licensing for businesses that need both composition and recording rights.

Real-World Example

A restaurant in Bogotá plays a curated playlist of 200 Colombian songs throughout the day. Each time a song plays, two royalties are triggered: one for the songwriter (collected by SAYCO) and one for the performer and record producer (collected by ACINPRO). The restaurant purchases a joint license through OSA that covers both rights.

If a Colombian singer performs on 50 recordings that receive regular airplay on national radio, ACINPRO tracks those performances and distributes royalties accordingly. A phonogram producer who funded 30 albums receives a separate share based on the usage of those specific recordings. The distribution formula accounts for both the frequency of use and the type of public communication (radio, television, background music, streaming).

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a performer or record producer based in Colombia, ACINPRO membership is the only way to collect neighboring rights royalties for public performances of your recordings. Without ACINPRO, you have no mechanism to receive payment when your recordings are played on Colombian radio, television, or in public venues.

For independent artists who self-produce their recordings, you qualify as both the performer and the phonogram producer. This means you are entitled to both shares of the neighboring rights royalty. Register your recordings with ACINPRO and ensure your ISRC codes are properly assigned so your works can be tracked.

If you distribute music internationally, ACINPRO has reciprocal agreements with neighboring rights societies in other countries. This means your recordings can generate royalties when played abroad, and foreign recordings played in Colombia generate royalties that ACINPRO collects on behalf of international performers.

Territory Covered

ACINPRO collects neighboring rights royalties across all of Colombia. The organization operates from its headquarters in Medellin and is the only entity recognized by Colombia's National Copyright Office (Direccion Nacional de Derecho de Autor) to collect royalties for performers and phonogram producers. ACINPRO also serves as Colombia's local ISRC agency since 2022, assigning unique identifiers to sound recordings nationwide.

Membership and Fees

ACINPRO offers membership to performers (artistas interpretes o ejecutantes), artist-producers (artistas productores), phonogram producers (productores fonograficos), and heirs of deceased rights holders. The affiliation process requires four steps:

1. Submit requirements and forms (available on the ACINPRO website)
2. Pay the affiliation fee (amount specified in the requirements document)
3. Send documentation to afiliaciones@acinpro.org.co
4. Evaluation by the Vigilance Committee (up to 90 business days)

Minors can register with authorization from a parent or guardian. The specific affiliation fee amount is listed in the requirements documents on the ACINPRO website.

Overhead Rate

ACINPRO does not publicly disclose a single overhead percentage on its website. The distribution rules specify that from the total amount approved for distribution, 50% goes to phonogram producers and 50% goes to performers. Within the performers' share, a portion is distributed as a "Benefit of Affiliation" proportional to each member's earnings from actual usage. The administrative deduction is applied before the distribution calculation. For specific overhead rate information, contact ACINPRO directly.

Royalty Distribution Schedule

ACINPRO operates two separate distribution schedules:

• Performers (artistas interpretes y ejecutantes): Two distributions per year, one every six months
• Phonogram producers (productores fonograficos): Three distributions per year, one every four months

Distributions are based on actual and effective public communication of music, as verified by ACINPRO's monitoring system, user reports, and accreditation data. The Consejo Directivo approves the distribution amounts for each period.

Reciprocal Agreements

Colombia has been a member of the Rome Convention since 1975 (Law 48 of 1975), which establishes protections for performers, phonogram producers, and broadcasting organizations. ACINPRO has reciprocal agreements with neighboring rights societies in other countries. This means Colombian recordings generate royalties when played abroad, and foreign recordings played in Colombia generate royalties that ACINPRO collects on behalf of international performers. ACINPRO is a member of FILAIE (Ibero-Latin-American Federation of Performers). Through the Sayco Acinpro Organization (OSA), both societies coordinate joint licensing for businesses that need both composition and recording rights.

Notable Members

ACINPRO represents a large community of Colombian performers and phonogram producers. Notable affiliated entities and individuals include:

• Jaime R. Echavarria (1923-2010): Colombian musician, singer, and songwriter. Served as president of ACINPRO from 1982 to 1986. Described as "one of the most important, beloved, and respected composers in Colombia."
• Discos Fuentes (Edimusica SAS): One of Colombia's oldest and largest record labels. Representative Tony M. Penarredonda C. serves as president of the ACINPRO Board.
• Codiscos SAS: Major Colombian record label. Representative Andres Ovalle Munoz serves as vice president of the Board.
• Warner Music Colombia SAS: International label with Colombian operations.
• Sony Music Entertainment Colombia SA: International label with Colombian operations.
• Universal Music Colombia SAS: International label with Colombian operations.
• Unaider Alfonso Brito: Artist and former president of the ACINPRO Board.

ACINPRO vs Other Organizations

Videos

Compare ACINPRO with Other PROs

• SAYCO - Colombian society of authors and composers (composition rights)
• SoundExchange - US neighboring rights collection society
• PPL - UK neighboring rights organization
• GVL - German neighboring rights society
• SADAIC - Argentine society of authors and composers
• AGADU - General society of authors of Uruguay

Related Resources

• Neighboring Rights - What neighboring rights are and how they differ from composition royalties
• Neighboring Rights Society - How collective management of related rights works
• Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) - How traditional PROs function compared to neighboring rights societies
• ISRC - The recording identifier that ACINPRO administers in Colombia
• Collective Management Organization (CMO) - How CMOs operate globally
• ACINPRO Official Website - Visit ACINPRO to learn about membership and licensing
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings