Sabam is dedicated to supporting and guiding its members throughout their artistic careers. We focus on promoting our members' repertoires and actively represent and defend their interests.
Sabam for Culture T
The cultural fund, Sabam for Culture, aims to promote, distribute, develop, protect, and defend the national music, culture, and art repertoires of Sabam in the broadest sense. This includes providing financial support and conclude partnerships both in Belgium and abroad.
Our Vision
Sabam for Culture does not seek to monopolize the promotion of our artistic talent. Instead, we support the efforts of creative artists and our partners. A committee ensures that all financial support and promotional expenses are approved only if they respect the general interest of Sabam members. Individual support is excluded, except for grants. Reports on financial support, expenses, and activities are submitted to the Music College, the Word & Image College, and the Board of Directors.
Sabam for Culture's activities are not limited to Belgium. We are also active internationally, participating in events such as ADE in Amsterdam, Eurosonic Festival in Groningen, MaMA in Paris, and Les Rencontres d'Avignon.
Funding
When we distribute royalties to our members and the authors we represent through agreements with foreign copyright societies, a solidarity deduction is made for social, cultural, and educational purposes. This ensures that everyone contributes to a global and collective solidarity among authors.
Article 8 of our general regulations details the types of rights from which we deduct for social and cultural purposes:
This funding enables Sabam for Culture to invest in the creation, exploitation, and internationalization of works, as well as the professional development of authors across all artistic disciplines.
Our support is build on 3 pillars:
- Grants
- Partnerships
- Training & Advice
Representation
Through partnerships with numerous professional associations, Sabam defends the interests of its members in a broader economic and political context. We maintain close contacts with major professional associations, including BSCG (film composers), Comav (composers), De Muziekgilde (music authors and artists), de scenaristengilde (Screenwriters), Unie van Regisseurs (audiovisual directors), the Flemish Authors' Association, ABRACA (Animation), AEB (Writers), ARRF (Film Directors), ASA (Screenwriters), BSCG (Film Music Composers), FBPH (Humorists), Forum de la création musicale (Composers), FACIR (Authors and Musical Artists), Les Lundis d'Hortense (Jazz) and BMPA (music publishers).
As co-founder, Sabam participates in the meetings of the board of directors of PRO SPERE (the federation of creators and performers in the French-speaking audiovisual sector). It is also a member of the CSA's advisory board (Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel) and of the Comité de concertation du cinéma et de l’audiovisuel.
As a member of the Flemish Media Sector Council and member of the conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel, Sabam influences audiovisual policy on behalf of its authors. Sabam also represents its members in the Council for Intellectual Property, providing input on legislative issues related to copyright.
Additionally, Sabam is a member of the collective management societies AUVIBEL (private copying fees) and REPROBEL (public lending right and reprography). We participate in the consultation committees established within the FPS Economy.
Sabam is a board member of ABA-BVA, the Belgian Association of Alai, actively participating in meetings and discussions on legal issues concerning copyright and related rights.