Argentina’s Deregulation Minister, Federico Sturzenegger, has announced the lifting of restrictions on cultural activities dating back to the Onganía dictatorships. The new laws eliminate monopolistic control over artists’ rights, empowering them to manage their royalties and contracts directly without intermediaries. This reform is viewed as a liberation from 50 years of cultural oppression in Argentina.
Argentina’s Deregulation Minister, Federico Sturzenegger, recently announced the repeal of longstanding restrictions on cultural activities that were initially imposed during General Juan Carlos Onganía’s dictatorship (1966-1970). Under this new Presidential Decree by Javier Milei, Argentine culture is set to be liberated from the oppressive state control established by the Onganía regime.
Sturzenegger criticized the previous system, noting that the state formerly managed artists’ incomes, compelling them to surrender their rights through state-sanctioned organizations. He described this arrangement as a “perverse system” that intensified under the Kirchnerist administration, which he accused of further restricting artistic expression while feigning support for it.
The historical mechanism allowed the government to manage artists’ rights and manipulate them through selective financial rewards or extortion. Sturzenegger emphasized the hypocrisy of Kirchnerism, claiming it conditioned artistic creation while robbing resources under the guise of support.
From the Onganía era forward, collective management societies such as SADAIC, SAGAI, AADI-CAPIF, DAC, and ARGENTORES had maintained monopolies over copyright representation and fee setting. One musician relayed that SADAIC had mandated permissions even for the arrangement of his own compositions.
Concert musicians were mandated to pay SADAIC upfront for using their materials, later seeking reimbursement for earned royalties. However, under the new legislation, these intermediaries will no longer be necessary, allowing artists to manage their own royalties directly and negotiate terms freely.
This significant reform enables creators to regain full control over their rights, making it possible for them to select their representation or choose to act independently. Sturzenegger stated, “Today we can leave behind 50 years of cultural oppression,” underscoring the importance of this change for artistic autonomy in Argentina.
The recent deregulation measures in Argentina mark a pivotal shift in the management of artists’ rights by abolishing monopolistic structures that have long dictated the artistic landscape. This reform empowers creators to independently manage their royalties and representation, ending decades of oppressive oversight that stifled artistic freedom. With these changes, artists can now operate without state intervention, fostering a more vibrant and autonomous cultural scene.
Original Source: en.mercopress.com
