Even in response to legal actions filed by Ecad since 2023, the Amapá state government and the city of Macapá this week announced the attractions for their New Year’s celebrations – once again without paying royalties for public use of the music.
The Amapá New Year’s Eve 2026, organized by the state government, features names like Zezé Di Camargo & Luciano and Chitãozinho & Xororó among the main attractions. According to Ecad, the estimated value of royalties for this year’s edition alone is around R$650,000.
The Macapá 2026 New Year’s Eve, promoted by the City Hall, will have a two-day program including shows by Viviane Batidão, Grelo, DJ Gigio Boy, Pagode Pegada de Gorila, Smith Gomez, among other artists. On each of the dates, the estimated value of the royalties is R$130,000.
Macapá City Hall’s failure to pay with Ecad has been going on since 2003, and the municipal and state events have been before the courts since 2023. The total amount of debt relating to previous editions always depends on the presentation, by public bodies, of the necessary documents to Ecad to complete the calculations.
For Nereu Silveira, regional director in charge of the State, the position of public management directly harms local artists:
“By emphasizing the defect, the state government and City Hall demonstrate, once again, their indifference towards the composers and artists of Amapá, who represent approximately half of this year’s New Year’s Eve program. They are professionals who widely disseminate their works, but who continue without being paid for the use of their work.”
Federal copyright legislation (Law 9.610/98) establishes that the public use of music in collective places generates an obligation to pay, even if the event is free or non-profit. Copyright payments should be treated like any other production costs, such as stage, lighting and fees.
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