The singer’s claim Charlie Aponte to collect royalties from the large number of songs he recorded while he was a member of The Great Combo of Puerto Rico It was heard by a Boston court and today, Tuesday, June 18, 2024, it ruled in favor of the Boricua singer.
It all started in November 2019 when the founder of The Great Combo, Rafael Ithierhe sued his former singer Charlie Aponte because he claimed a royalty payment that, according to Ithier, does not correspond to him.
The royalties that Aponte claimed are those that artists receive through Sound Exchange for the digital uses of the songs and who pays 50% to the owner of the recording, or the owner of the orchestra or ensemble, as it is known in the recording world, 45% to the ‘main performer’ and 5% to the ‘non-main performer and instrumental musicians’
Thus, many singers from other groups and even from Gran Combo itself, will be able to claim royalties for participation in the orchestras and which, furthermore, would be retroactive.
Today Charlie Aponte, during his time in Bogotá, and in the middle of his preparation for the concert “Live the sauce” he told Caracol Radio “That fight is between lawyers, Rafael Ithier and I are still friends, but a Boston court supported what my lawyer said” said Charlie Aponte.
