During the event, in the presence of executives and creators-members of the AUTODIA's Board of Directors, the spectacular increase in the Organization's revenues over the last seven years was announced by the CEO Ms. Margarita Panagiotopoulou, as well as the impressive results of the upcoming Royalty Distribution of December 2025.
Ms. Panagiotopoulou referred to the rapid progress of the Greek Society of music authors and rightsholders, the major licensing agreements that were completed with users, but also to the decisive importance of the collective management model for authors in the modern creative ecosystem.
In addition, critical issues concerning composers' and lyricists' rights in the digital age were highlighted by distinguished creators who attended the event: the composer and poet Yiannis Glezos -BoD Chairman- the author Ilias Filippou -Vice-Chairman-, composer, author and producer Phoebus -Board Member- and the composer Thanasis Polykandriotis -Board Member.
The creators expressed their concerns about the future of musical creation and the threat of gradual replacement of human works with AI products. Ms. Irini Stamatoudi, professor at the University of Nicosia (Athens UNIC), referred to the explosive developments in new technologies that are testing authors' rights in its full scope.
Creators & Scholars’ Statements
Need for new European legislation on copyright and AI
Board Chairman Yiannis Glezos pointed out that the challenges arising from AI and the complete lack of respect for creators’ rights by GenAI companies require today, more than ever, great mobilization, consensus and unanimity from the cultural and creative sector. “The new EU AI Act unfortunately did not bring any substantial result, regarding the basic triptych of our demands for transparency, licensing and remuneration. We need new specialized legislation to address the impact of AI services on the European creative ecosystem, in order to turn the challenges into opportunities,” emphasized the Greek composer.
Addressing the threat of AI-powered music substitution
Ilias Filippou spoke candidly about the risk of AI music substitution in businesses. “I have been working in the Greek music industry for 50 years, I have written many songs and make a living from my work. The effects of using AI, without consent and payment for us creators, will be devastating for our revenue from public music performance,” the distinguished lyricist stressed.
Phoebus shared his anxiety about the future of the profession and pointed out that "every musical work produced entirely with TN should carry a digital watermark for reasons of transparency, but also to avoid misleading listeners," adding that "the creators' request is, in addition, that from every income generated from the sales of AI songs, a remuneration percentage should be generated for the creators, which will be determined by law."
Enhancing and protecting Greek intangible cultural heritage
The substantial enhancing of cultural diversity in the digital age was at the center of Thanasis Polykandriotis' intervention, who stated that creators are demanding not only their royalties from the platforms, but also transparency and equality in the way Greek work is digitally distributed, with equal access and respect for its value. “What is needed is the substantial enhancing of cultural diversity that allows specific repertoires - such as rebetiko, our traditional songs and the folk repertoire - to have a place and visibility in international distribution channels. Because these repertoires are not just musical genres; they are memory, history, identity. They are our soul.”, concluded Mr. Polykandriotis.
New business models and AI
Professor of the University of Nicosia (Athens UNIC), Irini Stamatoudi, pointed out the following:
“The challenges of new technologies are overwhelming: new business models for content provision make platforms key market players, creating the need to redistribute wealth, so that creators receive a share. Illegal copying of works with no borders due to the internet, becomes even easier, while cracking down on it even more difficult. At the same time, AI raises important issues of use of works, both when training AI systems and when producing the output based on users’ prompts. Intellectual property rights are being tested in their full scope.”