Making a living from words or music is sometimes challenging. And though by their nature the professions of songwriter, composer and publisher have always had their share of risks and uncertainties, artistic careers are becoming increasingly fragile and volatile. In order to protect and care for its members at every stage of their lives, Sacem adopted a social welfare policy at a very early stage. In 2018, this will be strengthened and developed.
"Although the social welfare component of our songwriters' society is little known, it is nevertheless longstanding," explains Roger-Pierre Hermont, Director of Social Welfare From the beginning, songwriters, composers and music publishers have made mutual aid and support part of the DNA of the society. Being an immediate form of remuneration - for the distribution or reproduction of works - author's rights should be seen in the longer term: they must protect those who have dedicated their lives to art and creation, as professionals
Historical commitment
Only a few years following its creation, in 1860, Sacem set up a relief fund thanks to Rossini's royalties. In the years 1898-1899, the foundations of the mutual assistance allowance scheme (the current RAES) were laid. In 1947, when France had only just created its social security system, Sacem opened a mutual - la Société mutualiste - exclusively for its members. In 1951, prominent creators, who believed in their obligation to show fraternal solidarity, came together to form an association to help their peers in financial difficulty: the Comité du cœur. In 1964, as the final pillar in a unique social model, Sacem gave the RAES its present form, in the mutual aid allowance scheme reserved for people over 60. Sacem specifies today, in article 4 of its Articles of Association: to undertake "an action of foresight, solidarity and mutual aid by the constitution and payment of benefits within the framework of social services".
A global offer
"In total, over 32 million euros are spent annually on social services," resumes Roger-Pierre Hermont, before describing the three pillars: "old-age provision - the RAES -, health provision - Smacem, our mutual insurance company - and support for both our relief fund and, in addition, the Comité du cœur". Sacem also provides an active interface between its members and external social organisations. It participates in their governance: Agessa (artists' social security management association), Ircec retirement fund (with the two supplementary pension plans Raap and RACL), Afdas (which manages the artists' training fund)... Members of the Board of Directors, members and heads of Social welfare ensure the interests and social rights of songwriters and composers. "Constant vigilance is required," says Patrick Lemaître.
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These arrangements are the very concrete expression of the commitment and spirit of solidarity of songwriters, composers and music publishers. Roger-Pierre Hermont, Director of Social Welfare at Sacem
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2017: reforms in depth
Securing, sustaining, regenerating and strengthening social welfare provisions is a long-term task. In 2017, Sacem undertook a major reform of its security system for old age (RAES) in order to extend its benefits to as many people as possible (see the forum below). Complementary to the Comité du cœur, the relief initiative for the poorest has also been consolidated, through a significant increase in the allocation of the solidarity fund. The aim is to open these schemes more and more. In terms of professional support, the dynamics are the same for the launch of the new training assistance programme (see Magsacem No. 99, French version). "It is a fundamental principle: that members who join Sacem, as soon as the sales of their works generates royalties, should be able to benefit from social guarantees", points out Roger-Pierre Hermont. This ever-growing initiative of foresight and support is now strategic in nature: certain foreign creators, particularly American creators, consider it attractive and it might be one of their primary incentives to join the French song writers' society.
Collective action and commitment
Where does this social concern come from? First and foremost from committed and persuaded songwriters, composers and publishers. Many of them invest significant amounts of time to this initiative, not only within Sacem, but also and above all in external social organisations, acting in the interests of their peers. More discreetly and in conjunction with professional organisations, they often take decisive action in conjunction with the public authorities. "We follow parliamentary debates on social issues very closely and participate in all official consultations organised during the various reforms. When necessary, we we make targeted approaches to the supervisory authorities," says Patrick Lemaître.Whether in the name of Sacem, or in the context of group campaigns with other songwriters' societies or trade unions, they are involved in every struggle. In concrete terms this initiative bore fruit in 2017, with some important rulings: the reinstatement of songwriter' societies within the Agessa's professional committees; the development of a draft decree on pension fund investment rules; the obtention of a transitional compensation scheme for an increase in the CSG for artists - songwriters, the only people for whom no provision was made in the context of the 2018 Social Security finance bill. This climate of major transformation, which will continue in the months to come, calls for ever greater active vigilance in the service of the interests of creators and publishers.
RAES for the many
What is RAES?
It is an original provident scheme created and managed by Sacem. Its purpose To provide security in old age by paying benefits to its members, under certain age conditions (60 years) and seniority (ten years at SACEM including three years validated). This plan is the subject of a special report presented each year at the General Meeting.
What is the purpose of the reform?
The purpose is to establish the conditions for extending RAES benefits to as many people as possible, in particular through changes in the arrangements for enrolment in the scheme and the arrangements for liquidating acquired rights.
Has this reform been passed?
Its purpose and principles were presented and voted on at the June 2017 Annual General Meeting. The Board of Directors is currently working on defining the technical modalities for its implementation
The Comité du Cœur
Comprising 1,500 members, the association of the Comité du Cœur awards one-off grants each year to creators in financial difficulty who can prove that they have lived off their authors' rights. I n 2017, 120 individual aid and relief measures were implemented by the Comité du Cœur for a total amount of over €152,000. The individual support provided by the social assistance service reaches almost a hundred people each year. In 2017, the Comité renewed 3partnerships with associations of general interest whose common vocation is to work with hospitalised people, using music as the main means of communication. Each year, the Comité du Cœur receives donations and legacies from creators and publishers. Concrete generosity!
Forum • Patrick Lemaître, director of Sacem, president of RACL, vice-president of Ircec
"The social system for songwriters is a shared public asset, hard-won only a few decades ago. We have a duty to defend it, if possible to strengthen it, and to ensure its durability. Sacem regularly works with the public authorities in these matters, whether by participating in official consultations organised during the reforms, initiating targeted approaches to the supervisory authorities to defend the interests of our members, or to contribute in collective initiations brought by CMOs and the professional songwriters organisations.
As a result Sacem is currently contributing to a major initiative to safeguard our retirement plans. A government task force has been set up to unify and standardise all pension plans by 2019. The modalities of this project remain undefined, but it alerts us to the extent of its potential to fundamentally challenge the rules that apply to artists- song writers. However, it is essential to preserve the specificity of our social system. Artists- songwriters are members of professions that have a strong professional identity and undoubtedly deserve specific arrangements. We must maintain a system of old-age insurance and supplementary schemes for artists/song writers, as well as management of our schemes for artists/songwriters, by artists/song writers. Moreover, from an economic point of view, song writers would have much to lose from a strict alignment of all the schemes: the inevitable major increase in contributions, the knock-on effects on all the cultural industries as a whole, the undermining of the fragile balance of the system and of our professions... Let us add that after a period of almost four years of successive reforms (training, complementary schemes, Cnav...), each with its significant social challenges and efforts required, creators now need social stability. The joint letter sent to the High Commissioner for Pension Reform is only a first step. Let us remain vigilant and committed.”
These arrangements are a very concrete expression of the commitment and spirit of solidarity of songwriters, composers and music publishers. Roger-Pierre Hermont
"To become a member of the Comité du cœur is to affirm that songwriters are united and fraternal. Each one contributes according to his or her means and contributes to supporting those who are suffering hardship." Vanessa Bertran, dubbing artist President of Upad
"The social activism of Sacem protects your rights to reimbursement for your care, retirement and financial assistance when you are going through a difficult period. It is essential that society rhymes with generosity. " Claude Lemesle, songwriter honorary president of Sacem
ELOISE DUFOUR
See other articles from Mag SACEM
Published June 14 2018