Toledo promised them very happy putting music at their festivities. Until the SGAE arrived with pending invoices

Who does not like a good verbena with his musicite and his dances. In Toledotodos the years celebrate the August Fair, the Corpus and other events and in all, of course, they put music. The problem is that between 2017 and 2021 the invoices were not paid to the General Society of Authors and Editors. Now they will have to pay more than 143,000 euros.

Imposses. The Commercial Court No. 1 has issued a sentence and condemns the City Council of Toledo to pay the invoices not paid to the SGAE, which amount to 143,513.92 euros, plus 30,000 euros of coasts of the trial, as reported in Europa Press. Unpaid invoices correspond to the period between 2017 and 2021.

Disproportionate. According to the City Council, the rates of these invoices were “arbitrary and disproportionate”, which is why they were not paid at the time. In addition, in the case of the Lux Toledo event they alleged that it was the company Actiona who should pay the copyright. In the case of this event, the judge cites in the sentence that if the company does not pay it, “the City Council would assume it subsidiaryly.” The City Council has already approved a credit modification to deal with payment.

There have been more cases. Toledo’s is not the only case of a town hall to which the SGAE takes to court for non -payment. In September last year, Vigo had to pay more than half a million euros for not paying bills between 2018 and 2023. The list continues: Miranda del Ebro, Zalamea de la Serena, OBEJUNA SOURCE…

Confusion. There are few municipalities that have left SGAE invoices without paying, it seems that they have agreed, but sometimes it is the result of ignorance. According to him Orb and Associated Lawyers Officewhen a City Council hires a band, it often occurs that “he has been hired as an interpreter, as a musician performer of his own repertoire and that the SGAE does not have the exclusive management of those works.”

In addition, there is a lot of confusion around Who should pay when a public event is held. For example, although the City Council only gives the space and is a promoter who organizes the concert, corresponds to the City Council to pay the payment to the SGAE.

Bad communication. There have also been cases such as Medina del Campo where the fault was the lack of communication. The SGAE did not communicate that they had to pay anything until 2007, when there were already 76,000 euros. Something similar happened in Miranda del Ebro When in 2018 the SGAE sent the invoices corresponding to 2014.

Image | Pexels

In Xataka | A town in Toledo has tired of the squatters. So you are offering a new service to your neighbors to put them