Patrick Sigwalt, Sacem’s President: « Sacem is founded on strong values of solidarity and ethics »
As it marks its 175th anniversary and reports strong growth—€1.5 billion distributed to 663,000 creators (+9%)—Sacem is at a pivotal moment. Driven by international expansion and digital growth (€845 million in collections), yet facing profound changes in the sector, it is also at the forefront of challenges related to artificial intelligence. It is in this context that ElectronLibre interviewed its CEO, Cécile Rap-Veber, and its president, Patrick Sigwalt.
This year, Sacem is celebrating its 175th anniversary. How do you explain this longevity?
Patrick Sigwalt: It stems first and foremost from the vision of its founders, who conceived a deeply egalitarian society, free from discrimination based on age, nationality, or gender. The rules for remuneration are the same for everyone, from stars to emerging artists. Sacem is built on strong values of solidarity and ethics. It is an organization owned and run by creators themselves, with the support of professionals. This hybrid governance is a strength, because we inspire and support one another. Its longevity also attests to the robustness and adaptability of copyright, which we must continue to defend on a global scale.
Cécile Rap-Veber: What moves me is that Sacem was born out of creators’ initiative and has inherited their ability to adapt. It is not a rigid structure, but a living organism. With every technological innovation, it evolves with changing practices. Contrary to certain misconceptions, creators have always been able to embrace new technologies, as illustrated by major figures in French electronic music. This ability to adapt is at the heart of our identity.
« We are proud of Sacem’s cultural initiatives and are committed to expanding them »
The results published today for 2025 show relative stagnation in revenues within France: is this cause for concern, and what could help break the deadlock?
Cécile Rap-Veber: Yes, it is a concerning situation, for two reasons, one of which may seem counterintuitive. The first relates to the boom in live entertainment. The figures are impressive: massive global tours, very high ticket sales, and international and French…
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