AGADU (Asociación General de Autores del Uruguay)

AGADU (Asociación General de Autores del Uruguay) is a non-profit collective management organization that protects the moral and economic rights of authors, composers, and publishers in Uruguay. Founded on September 26, 1929 in Montevideo, AGADU licenses the public use of musical, theatrical, literary, and visual works and distributes royalties to its members and to affiliated foreign societies through reciprocal agreements.

How AGADU Works

AGADU issues blanket licenses to businesses that use music publicly in Uruguay, including radio stations, television broadcasters, streaming platforms, live concert venues, restaurants, hotels, and retail stores. License fees are collected and distributed to members based on usage data from performance logs, broadcast reports, and venue monitoring.

The organization represents authors and composers across all genres. Its membership includes writers of music, theater, literature, and visual arts. AGADU is a member of CISAC (the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) since 1933, which gives it reciprocal collection rights with over 100 sister societies worldwide. This means AGADU collects royalties for foreign works performed in Uruguay, and foreign societies collect for Uruguayan works performed abroad.

In Uruguay, AGADU operates alongside three other authorized societies: SUDEI (Sociedad Uruguaya de Artistas e Intérpretes) for performers, CUD (Cámara Uruguaya del Disco) for phonogram producers, and ANDEBU (Asociación Nacional de Broadcasters del Uruguay) for broadcasters. AGADU specifically handles the rights of authors and composers.

The first work registered with AGADU was the tango "Puro cuento" by Alberto Alonso and F. Ruiz Paris, registered the day after the organization's founding on September 27, 1929. Uruguay's Copyright Law was subsequently enacted in 1937.

Real-World Example

A Uruguayan composer writes 40 songs over a 10-year career. Several of those songs receive regular airplay on Montevideo radio stations, and one becomes a hit that is covered by artists in Argentina and Brazil. AGADU collects performance royalties from all licensed radio stations, television networks, and venues in Uruguay where those songs are played.

Through its CISAC membership, AGADU also receives royalties from SADAIC (Argentina) and ECAD (Brazil) when those songs are performed in those countries. The composer receives a single distribution from AGADU that includes both domestic collections and international remittances.

AGADU's first major royalty collection took place in 1930 at a benefit concert at Teatro Artigas in Montevideo, featuring the duo Gardel-Razzano. The event raised 1,100 pesos for the newly formed society, demonstrating the basic mechanism of live performance royalty collection that AGADU still practices today.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a Uruguayan songwriter, composer, or author, AGADU membership is the only way to collect performance royalties for your works within Uruguay. Without AGADU, you have no mechanism to receive payment when your music is played on Uruguayan radio, television, or in public venues.

For independent artists, AGADU offers a practical path to international royalty collection. When your music is performed in other countries, AGADU's CISAC membership means those foreign societies collect on your behalf and remit to AGADU for distribution to you. This covers over 100 countries without requiring you to join multiple societies.

If you are a foreign artist whose music is performed in Uruguay, your home PRO collects from AGADU through reciprocal agreements. Ensure your works are registered with your home PRO so they can claim from AGADU.

Territory Covered

AGADU licenses public performance rights across all of Uruguay. The organization operates from its headquarters at Canelones 1122 in Montevideo. AGADU represents authors and composers of music, theater, literature, and visual arts throughout Uruguayan territory. Through its CISAC membership and reciprocal agreements, AGADU also facilitates collection of royalties for Uruguayan works performed in over 100 countries worldwide.

Membership and Fees

AGADU offers four membership categories: Founders (socios Fundadores), Active (socios Activos), Administrated (socios Administrados), and Lifetime (socios Vitalicios). New members enter as Administrados. To join:

1. Submit a completed application form (SOLICITUD DE INSCRIPCION)
2. Sign a mandate contract (CONTRATO DE MANDATO)
3. Provide a copy of identity card or passport
4. Register at least one work of own or shared authorship
5. Attend an informational meeting (Zoom, Thursdays at 5pm)

Registration fees (as of 2025):

• Individual work registration: $60 Uruguayan pesos
• Album registration (minimum 5 works under one title): $120 Uruguayan pesos

Members receive benefits including free legal advice on copyright matters, medical clinic access, dental plan through Red Dentis, and access to a vacation park in Atlantida.

Overhead Rate

AGADU does not publicly disclose a single overhead percentage on its website. The organization operates as a non-profit and deducts administrative costs from collected royalties before distribution. The specific deduction rate is determined by the organization's statutes and approved by the General Assembly. For current overhead rate information, contact AGADU at agadu@agadu.org.

Royalty Distribution Schedule

AGADU maintains a payment calendar (Calendario de Pagos) published on its website. The organization distributes royalties periodically based on collected license fees from radio stations, television networks, venues, and other licensed businesses. Distributions include both domestic collections and international remittances received through CISAC reciprocal agreements. Members can check the AGADU website for specific distribution dates.

Reciprocal Agreements

AGADU has been a CISAC member since 1933, giving it reciprocal collection rights with over 100 sister societies worldwide. This means AGADU collects royalties for foreign works performed in Uruguay, and foreign societies collect for Uruguayan works performed abroad. Notable reciprocal relationships include:

• SADAIC (Argentina): Collects for Uruguayan works performed in Argentina
• ECAD (Brazil): Collects for Uruguayan works performed in Brazil
• SAYCO (Colombia): Collects for Uruguayan works performed in Colombia
• ACEMLA (US/Puerto Rico): Collects for Uruguayan works performed in the US

In Uruguay, AGADU operates alongside three other authorized societies: SUDEI (performers), CUD (phonogram producers), and ANDEBU (broadcasters). AGADU specifically handles the rights of authors and composers.

Notable Members

AGADU was founded by a group of poets, dramatists, and musicians on September 26, 1929. Notable members throughout its history include:

• Gerardo Matos Rodriguez: Composer of "La Cumparsita," the most famous tango in the world. His work was among the foundational catalog of AGADU.
• Edmundo Bianchi (1880-1965): Anarchist writer, dramatist, poet, and tango lyricist. Founding member and former president of AGADU.
• Froilan Aguilar (1896-1974): Composer and lyricist. Founding member of AGADU. His composition "Murmullos" was recorded by Carlos Gardel.
• Pintin Castellanos: Tango composer and founding member.
• Washington Benavides: Poet and songwriter with 500 songs registered at AGADU.
• Ruben Rada: Uruguayan musician and composer.
• Malena Muyala: Singer and composer.
• Larbanois & Carrero: Folk music duo.
• Alejandro Balbis: Singer-songwriter.
• Anibal Sampayo: Composer and guitarist.
• Omar Varela: Playwright and Secretary General of AGADU since 2001.

The first work registered with AGADU was the tango "Puro cuento" by Alberto Alonso and F. Ruiz Paris, registered on September 27, 1929 (the day after AGADU's founding).

AGADU vs Other Organizations

Videos

Compare AGADU with Other PROs

• SADAIC - Argentine society of authors and composers
• SAYCO - Colombian society of authors and composers
• ACEMLA - Latin American music composers and publishers society (US/Puerto Rico)
• ACINPRO - Colombian association of performers and phonogram producers
• SOCAN - Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada
• SIAE - Italian society of authors and publishers

Related Resources

• Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) - What a PRO is and how it functions
• Performance Royalties - How performance royalties are generated and collected
• Blanket License - The licensing model used by AGADU and other PROs
• Collective Management Organization (CMO) - How CMOs operate globally
• Copyright - The legal framework behind royalty collection
• AGADU Official Website - Visit AGADU for membership and licensing information
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings