Raul Vazquez Steps Down As Regional Director Of IFPI Latin America

New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ IFPI) IFPI announces today that Raul Vazquez is to step down from his position as Regional Director of IFPI Latin America.

During his 10 year tenure, Raul was instrumental in integrating the former regional trade group FLAPF into the global structure of IFPI. He also helped advance intellectual property reforms in countries across the region through major pieces of legislation including copyright term extension, ratification of international treaties, tougher penalties for music piracy and tax exemption on music sales.

Raul also led a significant expansion of performance rights activity in the region over the period, with the creation of 12 new music licensing companies in the region and a seven-fold increase in collections to more than US$140 million in 2010. In addition he brought new efficiencies to anti-piracy campaigns by creating independent joint venture operations with the MPA in Brazil and Mexico. These have led to seizures of hundreds of millions of pirate units and helped the music industry make the transition to a legitimate online market.

IFPI CEO Frances Moore said: "Raul has been a great colleague and he has given tremendous service to the music industry in Latin America. He has lobbied hard for our rights with governments and expanded the coverage of performance rights collections with considerable success. We wish him every success in the future."

Raul Vazquez said: "I am very grateful for the support and guidance I have received over the years from my team, colleagues and key executives across the industry. Among the many things that we have been able to accomplish, I think dearest to my heart is the creation of the CISAC/FILAIE/IFPI Latin America working group to tighten our relationship with sister organisations that represent performers and songwriters."