🎶 We help music be heard. More than a hundred years.
SOZA was founded in 1922 as the Slovak branch of the Czech Protective Association of Writers and Publishers of Musical Works, from which it separated in 1939 and operated under the name Slovak Authors’ Association of Music Composers, Writers and Publishers, cooperative Ltd. (SAS). SAS initially had 34 composers and lyricists as members, including Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský, Eugen Suchoň, Alexander Moyzes, and Gejza Dusík.
After a period during which SOZA operated as an organization under the Ministry of Culture, it transformed in 1992 into an independent civic association. Over time, SOZA developed a new organizational structure and technological foundation, enabling modern and efficient collective management of copyright.
Association Protecting Musical Works Composers and Publishers (Ochranné sdružení spisovatelů a nakladatelů hudebních děl) was established in Prague. The founding general assembly was held without representatives from Slovakia.”
The OSA Board approved Slovak composer Viliam Figuš-Bystrý’s statement regarding the transfer of his copyrights, making him one of the first composers represented by the Czech OSA (1875–1967).
Czechoslovakia acceded to the Berne Convention of 1886.
The OSA Board created a trustee position for Slovakia.
A Special General Meeting of OSA was held in Prague, at which Josef Gedenk was approved as trustee for Slovakia with the participation of Slovak authors.
3rd Ordinary General Assembly of OSA – for the second time with the participation of Slovak authors.
Resolution of OSA General Meeting on a loan to be used as a mortgage on the house where OSA had its seat in Bratislava
Independent Slovak Authors’ Organization Established - The Slovak Association of Music Composers, Writers and Publishers, cooperative of a limited liabilities company (Slovenský autorský sväz hudobných skladateľov, spisovateľov a nakladateľov, družstva s.r.o (abbreviation SAS).
Constitutive General Meeting of the Slovak Association of Music Composers, Writers and Publishers, cooperative of a limited liabilities company
Mikuláš Schneider Trnavský
Eugen Suchoň
Alexander Moyzes
Gejza Dusík
Ján Valašťan-Dolinský
Ľubomír Kupčok
Dr. Vojtech Hudec
Miloš Ruppeldt
Ján Krasko
(34 constitutive members in total)
Mikuláš Schneider Trnavský – Chairman
Dr. Vojtech Hudec Vice Chairman
Gejza Dusík Member (for light music)
Miloš Ruppeldt Member (for Publishers)
Alexander Albrecht
Otto Kaušitz
According to the Agreement with OSA, approved by a resolution of the Constitutive General Meeting, SAS fully assumed the rights and obligations of the former OSA branch in the territory of Slovakia. Soon afterward, two groups of members developed—authors with different status: authors who were members of the cooperative and authors who were non-members, in accordance with the Agreement on copyright representation.
In Slovakia, SAS carried out its own activities; from the perspective of international relations, OSA represented the entire territory of Czechoslovakia.
The Slovak Authors’ Association of Music Composers, Writers and Publishers, cooperative Ltd., became an organization under the state administration of the cultural sector (Ministry of Culture).
The name of the organization was changed to Slovak Performing and Mechanical Rights Society for the Rights to Musical Works (SOZA), a name that is still used today.
SOZA became a member of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) (Confédération Internationale des Sociétés d’Auteurs et Compositeurs). The confederation brings together 230 societies from 121 countries around the world and represents more than 3 million creators working in all areas of the arts (music, dramatic and literary arts, audiovisual creation, graphic and visual arts).
Between 1966 and 1969, Eugen Suchoň represented Slovakia as Vice-President of CISAC.
SOZA became a member of BIEM (Bureau International des Sociétés Gérant les Droits d’Enregistrement et de Reproduction Mécanique), an international organization bringing together collective management organizations and focusing on the protection of so-called mechanical rights.
With the consent of the Ministry of Culture, SOZA separated from state administration and became an independent association with the legal form of a civic association. It administers economic copyright to musical works from around the world in the territory of Slovakia and performs collective rights management in accordance with the Copyright Act.
SOZA has a new official headquarters at Rastislavova Street in Bratislava.
SOZA became a member of GESAC, the European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers. This organization brings together authors’ societies from the countries of the European Union, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, collectively representing more than one million creators working in the fields of music, graphic arts, literature, drama and audiovisual production.
SOZA celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding.More information at www.100soza.sk
1920 – 1939: Josef Bohuslav Foerster (OSA)
1939 – 1953: Mikuláš Schneider Trnavský (Chairman for life from 11 May 1945)
1945 – 1974: Eugen Suchoň
1975 – 1983:Ladislav Burlas
1983 – 1989: Iľja Zeljenka
1990 – 2008: Július Kinček
2008 - Matúš Jakabčic
1922 – 1939: Josef Gedenk (OSA truste)
1922 – 1939:Július Bochníček (Head of OSA Inspectorate)
1939 – 1942: Miloš Ruppeldt
1943 – 1974: Gejza Dusík
1974 – 1977: Andrej Gaduš
1977: Kristína Nemcová
1977 – 1989:Štefan Malíček
1990 – 1992: Pavol Haršányi
1992 – 1993: Romana Draškovičová
1994 – 2003:Peter Kliment
2003 – 2007: Ladislav Briestenský
2007 – 2008: Pavol Jursa
2008 – 2013: Vladimír Repčík
2013 - 2016: Anton Popovič
2016 - 2017: Mgr. art. Ľubomír Burgr Chairman
2016 - 2017: Ing. Richard JajcayBoard Member
2016 - 2017: JUDr. PhDr. Silvester Danóczy, PhD.Board Member
2017 - 2023:Mgr. art. Ľubomír Burgr Chairman
2017 - 2023:Mgr. Tomáš MikšBoard Member
2017 - 2023: JUDr. PhDr. Silvester Danóczy, PhD.Board Member
2023 - present:Mgr. art. Ľubomír Burgr Chairman
2023 - present:Mgr. Tomáš MikšBoard Member
2023 - present:Ing. Richard JajcayBoard Member
