ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus appointed President of creators network CISAC

Björn Ulvaeus, co-founder of Swedish pop legends ABBA, is the new President of CISAC, the confederation of authors’ societies.

In this new role, Ulvaeus will support the confederation’s work to secure stronger rights, more royalties, better systems, and improved conditions for creators across five repertoires – music, audiovisual, visual arts, drama and literature.

It’s a three-year term for the hitmaker, who succeeds Jean-Michel Jarre, the pioneering electronic music artist, in the role.

“I have made a great living as a songwriter and an artist,” he says in a statement, “and I have been fortunate enough to have enjoyed a lot of success. Now, as President of CISAC, I am happy to have a different kind of opportunity, to try and help the next generation of creators in their working lives. CISAC has a unique international authority, and I believe passionately in its mission to secure better, fairer terms for creators. I am also interested in how the technologies we use can work better, earning creators fairer rewards for their work and more royalties. I am therefore very excited about the opportunities ahead and looking forward to our collaboration”.

Paris-based CISAC represents more than 230 authors societies, including APRA AMCOS.

Last year, the organisation collected €9.6 billion ($16 billion) of licensing income and royalties worldwide on behalf of more than four million creators.

Ulvaeus was elected President by CISAC’s General Assembly, and announced to the post just days after he made a surprise appearance by video link at the Eurovision “Shine a Light” event, during which he gave a touching speech about ABBA’s career and its enduring connection with the song contest.

ABBA are, of course, one of the greatest pop groups of all time.

Along with co-writer Benny Andersson and singers Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, the foursome blew up when their tune ‘Waterloo’ won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. The hits kept coming, from ‘Dancing Queen’ to ‘Mamma Mia,’ ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’ and many more.

The group split in 1982 but have reportedly reunited in recent times to record a handful of new songs, which remain under lock and key.

Ulvaeus has “moved us, inspired us and lit up our lives with his songs and creations. I am absolutely thrilled that he has decided to take on the role of CISAC President, to support us in our mission to serve creators internationally,” comments CISAC Director General Gadi Oron in a statement issued Friday afternoon.

“Björn has an extraordinary track record – as a creator himself, as a champion for creators’ rights, and as an expert in the systems which ensure creators are fairly paid. These qualities will be invaluable to CISAC’s work and we look forward immensely to collaborating with him”.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.