SACVEN (Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de Venezuela) is a non-profit civil association founded on May 16, 1955 that represents over 13,000 national and foreign authors and composers in Venezuela. It collects, administers, and distributes patrimonial rights generated by the exploitation of musical, dramatic, literary, choreographic, and audiovisual works, and is authorized by the Venezuelan government as the country's primary collective management organization for authors' rights.
How SACVEN Works
SACVEN was founded by Luis Alfonzo Larrain (known as El Mago de la Musica Bailable) and 39 Venezuelan authors of the era, including Jesus Sanoja, Luis Maria Frometa (Billo), Jesus Corrales Sanchez, Jacobo Erder, and Anibal Abreu. The organization became an associate member of CISAC (Confederation Internationale des Societes d'Auteurs et Compositeurs) in 1964 and a regular member in 1968, connecting it to the global network of collecting societies.
SACVEN operates under Venezuela's Copyright Law (Ley sobre el Derecho de Autor) and its regulations, along with Decision 351 of the Cartagena Agreement Commission. It was officially authorized as a collective management entity by the Direccion Nacional del Derecho de Autor (DNDA) through Resolution No. 36.065 on October 15, 1996, published in Official Gazette No. 36,065.
The organization issues licenses to cable television companies, radio broadcasters, television networks, streaming platforms, concert venues, restaurants, retail stores, and any business that uses music or other protected works publicly in Venezuela. SACVEN sets tariff rates and publishes them in two national circulation newspapers, as required by law. Tariffs take effect 30 days after publication.
SACVEN distributes royalties to members based on usage data collected from licensees. The organization manages patrimonial rights across multiple categories of works: musical works with and without words, dramatic works, dramatico-musical works, literary works, choreographic or pantomimic works, and audiovisual works (both original and derivative).
Through CISAC membership, SACVEN maintains reciprocal agreements with collecting societies worldwide. When Venezuelan members' works are performed abroad, the foreign society collects royalties locally and transfers them to SACVEN for distribution. SACVEN also represents foreign societies' repertoires in Venezuela.
In 2024 and 2025, SACVEN experienced a leadership transition following the death of its president, Maestro Many Delgado. The organization held an extraordinary assembly in September 2025, convened by the Twelfth Municipal Court of the Metropolitan Area of Caracas. In February 2026, another extraordinary assembly was held at the auditorium of the Generalisimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base in La Carlota, where members approved modifications to the organization's statutes to restore administrative normalcy. Dra. Marcel Sanchez serves as Director General, leading SACVEN through this transition period.
Venezuela has two authorized collective management entities: SACVEN (for authors' rights) and AVINPRO (for neighboring rights, covering performers and producers).
Real-World Example
A Venezuelan songwriter joins SACVEN and registers 30 songs. A Caracas radio station plays 8 of those songs in a given quarter, a cable television network uses 5 songs as background music, and a concert venue holds a SACVEN license for a live performance where the songwriter performed 10 songs.
SACVEN collects royalties from all three sources based on the published tariff rates. The songwriter receives distributions according to the radio airplay logs, television usage reports, and the live performance setlist submitted to SACVEN.
If the same songs are played on radio in Colombia, SACVEN's CISAC membership and reciprocal agreement with SAYCO (Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de Colombia) means SAYCO collects those royalties locally and transfers them to SACVEN, which distributes them to the Venezuelan songwriter.
A Venezuelan composer with 40 registered works receiving regular airplay on national radio and television, moderate streaming activity, and live performances at licensed venues might earn anywhere from USD 1,000 to USD 20,000+ annually in SACVEN royalties, though amounts vary significantly due to Venezuela's economic conditions and the local currency exchange rate.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
If you are a Venezuelan songwriter, composer, or author, SACVEN is the primary organization for collecting your royalties in Venezuela. It is the only government-authorized CMO for authors' rights in the country, which means there is no alternative for domestic royalty collection.
Register every work with SACVEN as soon as it is commercially released. Provide complete metadata: title, writers, publishers, ownership splits, and ISWC numbers. Unregistered works earn zero royalties, even if they receive extensive airplay or streaming.
SACVEN's CISAC membership provides international royalty collection through reciprocal agreements with collecting societies worldwide. If your music is performed or broadcast outside Venezuela, those royalties flow back to you through SACVEN. You do not need to join a separate PRO in each country.
Be aware that Venezuela has two collective management entities. SACVEN handles authors' rights (songwriters and composers), while AVINPRO handles neighboring rights (performers and producers). If you both write and perform music, you may need to register with both organizations to collect all the royalties you are owed.
SACVEN publishes its tariff rates in national newspapers and its financial statements after the annual general assembly, which is held in the second half of March. Members can participate in these assemblies and vote on organizational matters. If you believe a tariff set by SACVEN is abusive, you can appeal to arbitration through the Direccion Nacional del Derecho de Autor within 10 business days of publication.
Territory Covered
SACVEN administers authors' rights within Venezuela. Its licenses cover public communication, reproduction, and distribution of works from its repertoire within Venezuelan territory. This includes radio broadcasting, television, cable television, streaming platforms, live concert venues, restaurants, retail stores, and any business that uses music or other protected works publicly in Venezuela. Through CISAC membership and reciprocal agreements, SACVEN also represents foreign societies' repertoires in Venezuela and facilitates collection of royalties for Venezuelan members when their works are used abroad.
How to Join and Membership Fees
SACVEN membership is open to authors and composers of musical, dramatic, literary, choreographic, and audiovisual works. The affiliation process requires:
- Submitting an application with identification documents and proof of authorship
- Providing the lyrics of at least one work in a legible format, indicating title, genre, authors (lyricists), and composers, with participation percentages signed by all contributors
- Specifying the exploitation modalities and territory for which SACVEN will administer rights
- Signing a cession contract (Contrato de Cesión) transferring specified rights to SACVEN
- Completing all admission procedures in person or through a notarized representative
The membership fee is not published as a fixed amount. Applicants must consult the Member Services Department (Gerencia de Atención al Socio) for the current affiliation cost. Heirs of deceased SACVEN members are exempt from the affiliation fee if the original member was a SACVEN member. The legal deposit (deposito legal) can be obtained free of charge through the National Library of Venezuela website and is not a limiting requirement for affiliation.
SACVEN maintains a YouTube channel (youtube.com/user/SACVEN1955) and active social media presence for member communications.
Overhead Rate
SACVEN's administrative cost deduction is not publicly disclosed as a single percentage figure. The organization publishes its tariff rates and financial statements in national circulation newspapers as required by Venezuelan law, but the specific overhead percentage retained before royalty distribution is not published in its publicly available materials. SACVEN operates as a non-profit civil association, and its financial statements are presented at the annual general assembly held in the second half of March each year.
Royalty Distribution Schedule
SACVEN distributes royalties to members based on usage data collected from licensees, including radio airplay logs, television usage reports, cable television reports, and live performance setlists. The organization manages patrimonial rights across multiple categories of works (musical, dramatic, dramatico-musical, literary, choreographic, and audiovisual).
Specific distribution frequency is not published in SACVEN's publicly available materials. The organization holds its annual general assembly in the second half of March, where financial statements and settlement reports are presented to members. Members can submit complaints about distributions through the organization's internal processes.
Community radio stations (emisoras comunitarias) do not generate royalties for SACVEN members, as noted in the organization's work declaration guidelines.
Reciprocal Agreements
SACVEN became an associate member of CISAC (Confederation Internationale des Societes d'Auteurs et Compositeurs) in 1964 and a regular member in 1968. Through CISAC membership, SACVEN maintains reciprocal agreements with collecting societies worldwide. When Venezuelan members' works are performed abroad, the foreign society collects royalties locally and transfers them to SACVEN for distribution. SACVEN also represents foreign societies' repertoires in Venezuela.
Specific bilateral reciprocal agreements include relationships with Latin American societies such as SAYCO (Colombia), SADAIC (Argentina), and other CISAC member societies. SACVEN represents over 13,000 national and foreign authors and composers, and its CISAC membership connects it to a network of collecting societies across 121 countries.
Notable Members
SACVEN was founded by Luis Alfonzo Larrain (known as El Mago de la Musica Bailable) and 39 Venezuelan authors, including:
- Luis Alfonzo Larrain - Founder, composer and bandleader
- Jesus Sanoja (Chucho Sanoja) - Founder, composer and arranger
- Luis Maria Frometa (Billo) - Founder, composer and bandleader of Billo's Caracas Boys
- Jesus Corrales Sanchez (Chucho Corrales) - Founder, composer
- Jacobo Erder - Founder
- Anibal Abreu - Founder, musician and arranger
Other notable Venezuelan composers associated with SACVEN's repertoire include:
- Aldemaro Romero - Composer and conductor, known for "Fuga con Pajarillo" and Venezuelan classical music
- Alfredo Sadel - Singer and composer, one of Venezuela's most celebrated vocalists
- Maria Luisa Escobar - Composer and pianist, founded the Venezuelan Association of Authors and Composers, a precursor to SACVEN's mission
- Pedro Elias Gutierrez - Composer of "Alma Llanera," considered Venezuela's second national anthem
Comparison Table
| Feature | SACVEN | SAYCO | SADAIC | SGAE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Territory | Venezuela | Colombia | Argentina | Spain |
| Join Fee | Contact SACVEN | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed |
| Overhead Rate | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed |
| Distribution Frequency | Not publicly disclosed | Quarterly | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Founded | 1955 | 1936 | 1936 | 1899 |
| CISAC Member | Yes (1964) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Videos
Similar PROs
- SAYCO - Colombian society of authors and composers, with a reciprocal agreement with SACVEN
- SADAIC - Argentine society of authors and composers, another major Latin American PRO
- SGAE - Spanish general society of authors and publishers, covering Spanish-language repertoire
- SACM - Mexican society of authors and composers, another Latin American authors' rights organization
Related Resources
- Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) - What a PRO is and how it functions
- Performance Royalties - How performance royalties are generated and collected
- Mechanical Royalties - How mechanical royalties differ from performance royalties
- Blanket License - The licensing model used by SACVEN
- Collective Management Organization (CMO) - How CMOs operate globally
- SACVEN Official Website - Visit SACVEN for membership and licensing information
- Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings
