Our History

In 2009, a Mandate for the collection of neighbouring rights belonging to phonographic producers both in clubs and public areas was signed between A.F.I. and SIAE, which will collect these rights on behalf of A.F.I.. During the same year, A.F.I. signed various agreements with foreign collecting societies in order to guarantee the collection of their associates rights abroad.

In 2008, A.F.I. improved the management of tax and administrative data of its associates by establishing a new Database.
In 2008, A.F.I. participates in the International trade show in Berlin, Popkomm, with its own stand, and organizes a series of different events to celebrate 60 years from its
foundation (MIDEM 2008; SANREMO 2008; realization of a market research, in collaboration with Cierre, about the “Youth and online music”).
In 2008 and 2009, thanks to Bruxelles activities, A.F.I. gets deeply involved with lobby affairs within the European Parliament, European Commission and the Italian delegation at the European Union, also improving the relationships with the other sectorial organisms and the management trusts of neighbouring rights of other countries. With reference to the latter, A.F.I. signed an agreement with SIMIM and IMAGIA, for the collection of the rights accrued in Belgium by its own associates.

In 2007, A.F.I. develops a digital platform called A.F.I. MUSIC to digitalize the repertoire of their companies, in order to collect and allocate rights abroad.

In 2006, A.F.I. becomes founder of the ITALY CULTURE SYSTEM, cultural Italian
industries set in Confindustria, today known as CCI Italian Culture Confindustria.

In 2005 A.f.i. joins CAPI – a trade union federation, as well as promoting cultural events, professional development obtaining the producer, artist and author’s rights reinforcement in the contest of the statement of new technologies.

In 2004, A.F.I. participates as partner in AXMEDIS (Automating Production of Cross
Media Content for Multi-Channel Distribution), a 4 year project financed by the
European Commission.

In 2003, on the initiative of A.F.I., EMCA (European Music Copyright Alliance) was born, both in Italy and Europe, an alliance between organisations and associations which represent and protect the authors, producers and artists’ rights, promoting the “Respect of the Creativity in schools”.

In 2002 A.F.I. opens a representative headquarters in Bruxelles, with the aim of both improving the institutional relations between the Association and the European Community, promoting Italian music abroad and encouraging the development of the small and medium enterprises of the audiovisual sector through European Community’s financial programs. During the same year, A.F.I. and FIPI – International Federation of Independent Producers, promoted the realization of professional training courses, supported by the Lombardy Region and financed by the European Social Fund, in the music and performance sector.

In 2001 A.F.I. signed an agreement with FIMI for the recognition of the respective representatives in Confindustria. During the same year, the musical observatory, established in 2000 between A.F.I./FIMI delegates and RAI summits, becomes operational with the aim of taking up a real and strong collaboration between the Discography Associations and Rai Company.

In 2000 A.F.I. set up the first experimental license for internet streaming.
During the same year, an agreement was signed with the private radio broadcasting, subscribed by RNA, the Association made by the 13 most important radio broadcasting networks, not only for the recognition of a reward, but also to value new talents and new musical productions.

In 1999 an agreement with SIAE was signed in order to strengthen the collaboration. The goal was to defend the phonographic producer and the artist and to develop joint initiatives concerning on-line music and Anti-Piracy.

1976 is the year of the first agreement between A.F.I. and SIAE for the use of the complete protected repertoire, run by BIEM (International Organization of the
Collective Management of Phonomechanics Reproduction Rights). During the same period, with the improved communication and especially after the participation of Italy to the Convention of Rome (International Convention for the protection of artists, record producers and radio broadcasting organisms), A.F.I. is strictly committed to the negotiations aimed at recognizing neighbouring rights to the phonograms producers.
During the same period, A.F.I. organize a technical training for both its associates and their external collaborators. In the following years A.F.I., in collaboration with SIAE, coordinates an important control activity of the market in order to hinder the piracy. Concerning the external relation-ships, the association earned important recognitions, but internally, the contrast between multinationals and independent producers become more and more bitter with the starting of the market crisis.

In the 50’s, A.F.I. signed an agreement with RAI (Italian public broadcasting company) for the use of phonograms in television. During the 60’s, the Association keeps organizing various activities dedicated to the protection of its own members and also to the promotion of Italian music. In 1973 it is motivated to get the uniformity between CD and similar cultural products and, consequently, a lower imposition tax.

A.F.I. was born on November 14, 1933, in Rome, where the most important Italian recording companies of that period, with Ricordi in charge, created the “ Italian International Federation of Phonographic Industry”. The activities were stopped due to the burst of the Second World War.
On the initiative of seven different companies*, A.F.I. – Italian Phonographic Association officially starts its activities on October 1, 1948.
*La Voce del Padrone, Columbia, Marconi, Phone Spa, La Fonit, La C.E.T.R.A., Carish S.A, Durium S.A.,A.C.E.R. S.A., Fonotecnica.