Cuban Musician Giraldo Piloto Exposes Record Label Fraud: "We've Been Cheated for Years"

Drummer and composer Giraldo Piloto, leader of the band Klimax, has publicly exposed the systemic fraud perpetrated by Cuban state-run record labels against musicians and producers over the decades. He specifically called out the Cuban Musical Rights Agency (ACDAM) and the Musical Publisher of Cuba for their deceit.

In a post titled "The Pseudo Cultural Support: Cases and Things at Home," Piloto expressed his outrage upon discovering how brazenly these Cuban labels have been cheating artists for years. "I received recent and verified information with great indignation about the audacity with which Cuban record companies have swindled us for years," wrote Piloto.

The tipping point came when he was blocked from uploading Klimax's music to digital platforms, despite having contracts that confirm his ownership of these works. "Everything resurfaced when I tried to upload a couple of Klimax songs to the music platforms everyone follows these days. The contracts in my possession clearly recognize my indisputable ownership of these productions," Piloto explained.

The Long-Standing Conflict

Piloto's disputes with these entities aren't new, stretching back to the 1990s. After enduring "uncomfortable and endless meetings" for over a decade, he compelled ACDAM, under the Ministry of Culture, to acknowledge his claims, allowing him to recover "hundreds of thousands of Cuban pesos and tens of thousands of the now-defunct CUC."

Nevertheless, the musician clarified that this compensation didn't cover everything he was owed, and new evidence prompted him to speak out now. "In Cuba, it's incredibly challenging to realize when you're being deceived. Just yesterday, I was told I couldn't upload MY SONGS," Piloto stated candidly in the comments of his post.

Standing Firm with Evidence

To those questioning the timing of his revelation, Piloto retorted, "If someone robbed your house today, wouldn't you report it?" He emphasized possessing ample documentation to support his allegations and hinted that full details will be available in two forthcoming books he's finalizing.

Piloto urged these companies to rectify their long-standing mistakes, not just for him but for all producers and composers who placed their trust in them. "I urge these companies to correct the wrongdoings and amend the errors they have legitimized for years, not only for me but for all producers or composers who trusted you," he insisted.

Systemic Issues in Cuban Music Industry

This complaint isn't an isolated incident in the Cuban music scene. In July 2023, musician Papucho publicly accused EGREM of deducting 4% from his gross earnings for performing his own songs at venues owned by the same state entity, without receiving a formal response from the Institute of Music.

Since relocating to Miami in 2025, Giraldo Piloto remains a pivotal figure in Cuban music. He co-founded NG La Banda in 1988, led Issac Delgado's orchestra from 1992 to 1994, and has spearheaded Klimax since 1995. He also directed the Fiesta del Tambor Festival for over 20 years, which he claims was the leading—and for a long time, the only—promoter of Afro-Cuban culture when state institutions ignored genres like rumba, Yoruba traditions, pilón, Mozambique, and abakuá culture.

"Simply put, rights must be respected, something that hasn't happened in Cuba for many years. It's shameful," Piloto lamented.