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, representative of Atresmedia Radio, who has held the Presidency for the last 3 years.

The outgoing president expressed the need for the AERC to continue denouncing radio stations that broadcast illegally, maintaining constant and exhaustive monitoring of the administrative files opened in each case.

On the other hand, the AERC “will continue to defend its rights against rights management entities AGEDI and AIE always looking for a balanced model but, above all, viable for the sector,” said Osorio.

The outgoing president was also critical of “the lack of aid to the 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, to whom the members of the Assembly have thanked for his seven years of intense dedication. Velasco is a recognized professional in the radio sector, with more than 30 years of experience and the ability to give new impetus to the association in the current competitive context.