• The entity managing the rights of writers and directors foresees to close 2020 with an increase of 5,8% in its collection. This is thanks to the growth of the audiovisual platforms under demand.

• The budget for assistance funds grows by 75.2%, to 520,000 euros, which will be allocated mainly to a specific program of social assistance. This program is already in place because of the pandemic as well.

DAMA, the management entity of rights of audiovisual authors held an extraordinary general meeting. This meeting was taken place to discuss the pending budgets for 2021. Said 2021 budgets as well as the annual investment policy report were approved.

In 2019, the entity’s collection reached 24.5 million euros; Now a year later DAMA expects to close 2020 with a turnover of 26 million. This growth of 5.8% is primarily due to the increase of incomes of the demanded video platforms, which exceeds 2.4 million. This figure shows an increase of 46.6% over the previous year.

Furthermore, digital television operators continue to be the main source of copyright collection, contributing more than 15 million euros. The collection of royalties in cinemas has been reduced to 2.9 million euros in 2020. This 49.9% drop in the estimate amount is due to the harsh impact that the Covid-19 crisis has had on the sector.

Due to the onset of the pandemic in March, DAMA reacted with agility and since April has created a Social Aid Plan available to its members based. This availability is given specifically on their requests. Direct financial aid in the event of loss of income, extraordinary advance on future rights and advice of requesting public aid are some of the services which have since been offered to members.

Given the persistence of this difficult situation, DAMA has decided to increase a 75.2% of its budget for assistance funds in 2021. This increase will have an endowment of 520,000 euros to, among others, cover the specific program before the Covid-19 crisis. In the area of management, the budget maintains its competitive administration discount of 10%.

In terms of memberships, DAMA continues to grow and plans to start 2021 with 1,648 members, which represents an increase of 27% compared to the previous year. This is due to the arrival of professionals from the most outstanding series of the moment, such as the well-known Hit, La Casa de Papel (Money Heist), Cuéntame Cómo Pasó, Merlí, Vis a Vis (Locked up) o El Ministerio del Tiempo.

This year which is about to end has also been especially significant for DAMA due to the opening of its new headquarters, what has been in operation since last summer. The headquarters offers a meeting point for audiovisual creation located in the heart of Madrid. It has more than 800 square meters of space in the neighborhood of La Latina. It also offers rooms to hold meeting as well as work rooms which are reserved for members and finally also providing three small auditoriums.