Charles Aznavour meets EC President José Manuel Barroso

French artist Charles Aznavour
and President Barroso


With John Kennedy and Aznavour's
manager Levon Sayan.

IFPI organised a meeting in Brussels on 29th November between EMI artist Charles Aznavour and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso on the issue of the review of term of protection for performers and producers in the EU. John Kennedy, IFPI Chairman & CEO, and Hervé Defranoux, Director, EMI Music France, also participated in what was the first meeting between President Barroso and the recording industry.

The French artist spoke about the need to extend the current 50 year term of protection in Europe to equalise with the US which provides 95 years' protection. Charles Aznavour said: "On term of protection, artists and record companies are of the same mind. Extension of term of protection would be good for European culture, positive for the European economy and would put an end the current discrimination with the U.S."

Following the meeting, a spokeswoman for President Barroso said: "The President was very happy to receive M. Aznavour, a person who has made a big contribution to European culture in general and to French chanson in particular... The information presented by M. Aznavour will be taken very seriously."

John Kennedy, Chairman & CEO, IFPI, said: "Charles Aznavour engaged the President from the very first moment. He was clearly doing this on behalf of others and not out of self-interest."

Hervé Defranoux, Director, EMI Music France, said: "We greatly value Charles Aznavour as an artist and today we witnessed how passionate and articulate he is on the issue of term of protection. This is clearly a subject close to his heart and important for all our artists."

For further information or copies of the photographs contact: Francine Cunningham, IFPI European Office,
Tel: + 32 2 511 92 08
Email: Francine.cunningham@ifpi.org