Results of the SUISA General Meeting 2020
For the first time in SUISA's history, the General Meeting was held in written form due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. For the first time in the Cooperative's history, SUISA members were able to vote and elect by post and, in the case of some members from abroad, by e-mail.
A total of 1576 valid ballots were received.
The main results of the SUISA General Assembly 2020:
- Emergeny support fund approved: The SUISA General Meeting approved the emergency support fund by a large majority. This fund substitutes copyright royalties that SUISA members lose due to the cancellation of events and closure of businesses ordered by the authorities. The relief measure was approved by the SUISA Board of Directors in April in view of the current precarious situation for music professionals.
- Melanie Oesch elected to the Board: SUISA members also elected the Swiss yodeller, singer, composer and publisher Melanie Oesch to the Board for the current term of office until 2023. Melanie Oesch is, as part of Oesch's die Dritten, one of the most successful representatives of traditional folklore music. She replaces Reto Parolari, who passed away unexpectedly last December.
- Michael Hug elected to the Distribution and Work Committee: Music publisher Michael Hug was elected to SUISA's Distribution and Works Committee (VWK), also for the current term of office until 2023. He replaces Grégoire Liechti, who was elected to the SUISA Board of Directors last year.
- Annual accounts approved: SUISA's members also approved the 2019 annual accounts. Last year SUISA achieved the best result in its history and is able to distribute CHF 135 million to composers, lyricists and publishers of mu-sic. Thanks to a favourable cost deduction of 13.07% on the statements of account to rights holders, SUISA is able to distribute about 87 of 100 Swiss Francs of its income to composers, lyricists and publishers of music.
