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Willie Colón Collaborator Sues Over ‘Tras La Tormenta’ Songwriting Royalties
Venezuelan singer-songwriter Amílcar Boscán has filed a lawsuit against the Willie Colón Music Company, alleging he is owed more than $300,000 in unpaid royalties for two songs he wrote for the late salsa legend. The case, filed on Monday 20 July, centres on "Caer en Gracia" and "Talento de Televisión", both written for Colón's 1995 collaborative album with Rubén Blades, Tras La Tormenta, which reached No. 3 on Billboard's Top Tropical Albums chart.
Boscán claims he transferred his copyrights to Colón's company in 1994 in exchange for a promised 50% share of publishing royalties, but says he was never properly paid or sent royalty statements, and that his name was omitted from BMI registration paperwork for "Talento de Televisión" — a song he says has racked up over 450 million Spotify streams. The lawsuit alleges breach of contract and violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and also seeks a court declaration confirming his right to reclaim the copyrights under US copyright law's termination provisions, with Boscán saying the publisher has disputed a termination notice he sent two years ago. Colón, a pioneering Bronx-born trombonist and bandleader in salsa music, died in February at the age of 75; his estate's representative had not responded to a request for comment at time of writing.
In short
- Songwriter Amílcar Boscán sues Willie Colón's company over unpaid royalties.
- Claims over $300,000 owed for two 1995 Tras La Tormenta tracks.
- Also seeks to reclaim copyrights via termination right; Colón died in February.
Explained simply
Songwriting royalties are payments made when music is sold, streamed or otherwise used. Publishing rights determine who can collect those payments and how they are shared; songwriters may also be listed with organisations that track royalties and distribute them.
Amílcar Boscán is a Venezuelan singer-songwriter who says he wrote two songs for salsa musician Willie Colón and agreed to transfer their copyrights in return for half the publishing royalties. The songs appeared on Tras La Tormenta, Colón’s 1995 album with Rubén Blades.
US copyright law can allow creators to reclaim transferred rights after a set period, subject to legal conditions. Disputes over royalty agreements, credit and copyright termination can affect who receives income from recordings, including as songs continue to be streamed.