The AERC appoints Ignacio Soto as new president and is committed to continuing its fight against piracy

The Spanish Association of Commercial Radio Broadcasting (AERC), which brings together practically all of the commercial stations operating in our country, held its Annual General Assembly last week at the Madrid Press Center.

At this meeting, the work of the Association during 2021 was analyzed, the Financial Year Accounts were approved and the annual Budget was presented and given the green light.

During the Assembly the appointment of Ignacio Soto, representative of PRISA Radio, as the new president of the Association, succeeding Ramon Osorio, representante de Atresmedia Radio, que ha ejercido la Presidencia en los últimos 3 años.

El presidente saliente expresó la necesidad por parte de la AERC de seguir denunciando a las emisoras de radio que emiten de manera ilegal, manteniendo un constante y exhaustivo seguimiento de los expedientes administrativos abiertos en cada caso.

Por otro lado, la AERC “continuará defendiendo sus derechos frente a las entidades de gestión de derechos AGEDI y AIE buscando siempre un modelo equilibrado pero, ante todo, viable para el sector”, aseguró Osorio.

El presidente saliente también fue crítico con “la falta de ayudas al sector", since the beginning of the pandemic caused by COVID-19, by the central government, in contrast to what is happening in other countries of the European Union."

For his part, Ignacio Soto, highlighted in his speech some fundamental objectives that they have to guide the action of the Association in the coming years; among them, gaining weight and relevance as a sector in the face of national and regional institutions, the enhancement of radio as a commercial support and as a means of communication. He also emphasized defending the interests of radio operators against copyright management entities to maintain a viable model and the fight against piracy that continues to distort the sector.

The General Assembly also approved the appointment of Julian Velasco as the new general secretary, succeeding Javier Agustí, a quien los miembros de la Asamblea han agradecido sus siete años de intensa dedicación. Velasco es reconocido profesional del sector radiofónico, con más de 30 años de experiencia y con la capacidad para darle un nuevo impulso a la asociación en el actual contexto competitivo.