Sociedad Panameña de Autores y Compositores (SPAC)

SPAC (Sociedad Panamena de Autores y Compositores) is a non-profit collective management organization founded in 1972 in Panama that licenses the public performance of musical works on behalf of its affiliated authors and composers. It was established by a group of writers and composers from the tradicional Panamanian music genre who organized to protect their rights and preserve folkloric musical values. SPAC distributes royalties quarterly to its members based on usage data from radio stations, television networks, streaming platforms, and live venues.

How SPAC Works

SPAC issues licenses to radio stations, television networks, streaming services, concert venues, restaurants, retail stores, and any business that plays music publicly in Panama. Collected license fees are distributed to affiliated authors and composers based on reported usage data from broadcasters, digital platforms, and live performance set lists.

SPAC operates as a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors elected by its members. In September 2025, SPAC held elections with 190 eligible voting members, of which 122 participated. The winning slate, "La Nueva Era de SPAC," led by President Amable Moreno Cardenas, took office with a board of seven directors including a vice president, treasurer, secretary, and three additional directors.

In February 2026, SPAC signed an official cooperation agreement with the Asociacion Panamenista de Radiodifusion (APR), the Panamanian Association of Broadcasters. The agreement, signed on February 3, 2026, by APR President Pedro Solis and SPAC President Amable Moreno Cardenas, strengthens the relationship between authors and radio broadcasters and improves the framework for royalty collection from radio stations.

SPAC publishes an official royalty distribution calendar each year. The 2026 calendar follows a quarterly schedule with four distribution periods. Each quarter has a process closing date followed by a payment window. First quarter payments (for March) close on April 15, 2026, with payments from April 16 to 30. Second quarter (June) closes July 15, with payments July 16 to 30. Third quarter (September) closes October 15, with payments October 16 to 30. Fourth quarter (December) closes December 20, with payments December 21 to 31.

SPAC also offers school scholarships for the children of active members. The 2026 scholarship application period ran from January 19 to January 30, 2026, providing educational support to member families as part of SPAC's social responsibility programs.

Real-World Example

A Panamanian songwriter affiliates with SPAC and registers 10 songs. A Panama City radio station plays 5 of those songs regularly, and two local restaurants hold SPAC blanket licenses for background music. SPAC collects royalties from both sources.

The songwriter receives a quarterly distribution based on the radio station's reported playlists and the restaurants' license fees. If the same songs are played on radio in Colombia, SPAC's reciprocal agreement with SAYCO (the Colombian collective management organization) means SAYCO collects those royalties and remits them to SPAC, which distributes them to the songwriter in the next distribution cycle.

With SPAC's quarterly distribution schedule, the songwriter can expect payments in April, July, October, and December 2026. A songwriter with 10 registered songs receiving regular airplay on Panamanian radio might earn anywhere from $200 to $15,000 annually, depending on the scale of usage and the number of stations playing the works.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a Panamanian songwriter or composer, SPAC membership is the primary way to collect performance royalties when your music is played publicly in Panama. Without it, you are not collecting royalties from radio, TV, streaming platforms, live venues, or businesses that play your music.

Register every composition with SPAC before commercial release. Unregistered works earn zero royalties, even if they receive significant radio airplay. Submit accurate metadata including song titles, writer shares, publisher information, and ISRC codes to ensure proper matching and payment.

SPAC's 2026 cooperation agreement with APR means radio royalty collection is being strengthened. This is directly relevant to independent artists whose music gets radio play in Panama. The agreement should improve reporting accuracy and royalty flow from radio stations to songwriters.

SPAC's scholarship program provides a tangible benefit beyond royalty collection. If you are an active member with school-age children, you can apply for educational scholarships during the annual application period. This is an unusual benefit among PROs and worth taking advantage of.

SPAC's reciprocal agreements with foreign societies mean your royalties flow back to you when your music is played internationally. Ensure your works are registered so international performances are tracked. SPAC's relatively small membership base means you may receive more personalized service than at larger PROs, but the total royalty pool is also smaller.

Territory Covered

SPAC administers public performance rights for musical works throughout Panama. It is the state-authorized collective management organization for authors and composers under Title IX of Law 64 of 2012. SPAC's territorial mandate covers all of Panama, including radio stations, television networks, streaming services, concert venues, restaurants, retail stores, discotheques, and any business that plays music publicly within Panamanian borders. SPAC was constituted on September 24, 1972, and obtained its legal personality under Resolution No. 1 of February 17, 1973.

How to Join and Membership Fees

SPAC does not charge an affiliation fee. According to the organization's FAQ: "¡NO HAY COSTO DE AFILIACIÓN!" (There is no affiliation cost).

Joining process:

1. Fill out an affiliation application containing representation powers so SPAC can administer your works
2. Submit the application along with the applicant's personal information
3. The Board of Directors reviews and approves the application
4. Registration can be completed online through SPAC's member application

Membership categories and requirements:

• Affiliated member: Any composer or author of musical works can affiliate by submitting the application. No minimum earnings required.
• Active member (voting rights): Must have earned at least B/. 500 (500 Balboas, equivalent to USD 500) in royalties from administered rights over the two immediately preceding calendar years, OR at least B/. 250 in the immediately preceding calendar year.

SPAC held elections in September 2025 with 190 eligible voting members, of which 122 participated. The winning slate, "La Nueva Era de SPAC," led by President Amable Moreno Cárdenas, took office with a board of seven directors.

Overhead Rate

SPAC deducts 40% of gross collections before distributing royalties to members. This consists of:

• 30% for administrative expenses (gastos administrativos) - Stipulated in Panama's Copyright Law (Ley de Derecho de Autor) to cover the cost of collecting and distributing royalties
• 10% for social assistance fund (fondo de asistencia social) - Established in reciprocity contracts with sister societies and approved by SPAC's General Assembly of Members

The remaining 60% is distributed to affiliated authors and composers based on reported usage data. SPAC's board is authorized to deduct up to 30% of gross collections to cover the cost of collecting and distributing, as published in the organization's rules.

Royalty Distribution Schedule

SPAC distributes royalties on a quarterly schedule with four distribution periods per year. The 2026 distribution calendar:

Each quarter has a process closing date followed by a payment window. Royalties are allocated based on usage data from radio station playlists, television reports, digital platform data, and live performance setlists.

Reciprocal Agreements

SPAC is a member of CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) and maintains reciprocal agreements with sister societies worldwide. When Panamanian authors' works are performed in Colombia, SPAC's reciprocal agreement with SAYCO means SAYCO collects those royalties and remits them to SPAC for distribution. The same mechanism applies across all CISAC member societies.

SPAC's reciprocal contracts include the 10% social assistance fund deduction, which is part of the agreements approved by the General Assembly of Members.

In February 2026, SPAC signed an official cooperation agreement with the Asociación Panameñista de Radiodifusión (APR), the Panamanian Association of Broadcasters, to strengthen the relationship between authors and radio broadcasters and improve the framework for royalty collection from radio stations.

Notable Members

SPAC was founded in 1972 by a group of authors and composers from the traditional Panamanian music genre (música típica panameña) who organized to protect their rights and preserve folkloric musical values. Notable figures associated with SPAC include:

• Amable Moreno Cárdenas - Current President of SPAC (elected September 2025), leading the "La Nueva Era de SPAC" slate
• Ceferino Nieto - Renowned accordionist and national glory of Panamanian traditional music, recognized as "El Titán de las Américas"
• Rubén Blades - Panama's most internationally recognized songwriter and composer, known for "Pedro Navaja" and "El Cantante," with 12 Grammy Awards and 12 Latin Grammy Awards. While Blades is Panamanian, his extensive catalog of compositions falls within SPAC's territorial mandate when performed in Panama.

SPAC's membership base is relatively small compared to larger Latin American PROs, which means members may receive more personalized service, though the total royalty pool is also smaller.

Comparison Table

Videos

Similar PROs

• SAYCO - Colombia's PRO for authors and composers, SPAC's closest regional counterpart with a direct reciprocal agreement
• SACM - Mexico's society of authors and composers, a comparable Latin American CMO
• SADAIC - Argentina's PRO, a major South American society with reciprocal ties
• SCD - Chile's PRO, another Latin American CMO with similar territorial scope

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 SPAC
• Collective Management Organization (CMO) - How CMOs operate globally
• SPAC Official Website - Visit SPAC for membership and licensing information
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings