Sanremo 2026, who answers for hidden advertising and political messages

For the next edition of Sanremo, it will not be the Rai that will be liable in the event that a competing artist makes explicit or covert advertising for a particular brand through their performance on the Ariston stage. What is more, in the event of gestures made or words uttered "contrary to the principles of morality or in contrast with Rai's editorial line",the responsibility will fall solely and exclusively on the singer protagonist of the episode in question.

This is laid down in the latestagreement on contributions to record companies, signed last December by the top management of Viale Mazzini and the Fimi and Pmi trade associations, a 'framework text' that forms the basis for the individual agreements between Rai and the labels of the 30 musical projects competing this year. The topic is very topical: this is said by the last editions of the Italian Song Festival, in particular the one of 2023 (Amadeus was in charge) that cost Rai a multa Agcom for the selfies on Instagram of Chiara Ferragni and led to an investigation for devastation, later archived, against Blanco who kicked the floral decorations at the Ariston. But not only: let us just recall the case of the shoes of John Travolta (2024, still Amadeus on the command board) and that of the Tony Effe's necklace removed just before the performance (2025, the first year of the return of Carlo Conti who, meanwhile, about his artistic direction, says: "I hope that from next year there will be someone else").

The issue is also very delicate and, in November, brought the negotiations on the economic part between RAI and the record companies to an impasse, since State TV initially aimed at introducing a sort of "objective responsibility" clause for the labels. The stumbling block was overcome in the final text of the framework agreement, with the labsl that on the marketing side would guarantee and indemnify RAI from any form of surreptitious advertising. Should they then succeed in proving that the episode occurred against their will, the responsibility would revert back to the artist. As for the conduct contrary to the principles of morality and the editorial line of State TV, RAI and the record companies resolved it with a call for compliance with the Festival regulations, from which it is clear that the responsibility remains with the artist. In the case of specific 'coded messages' conveyed on stage, the contestant will be responsible for any claims. A detail not to be overlooked, considering for example the "Stop genocide" pronounced by Ghali in 2024.

Even on the reimbursement front, negotiations were concluded with mutual satisfaction: Rai's contribution to record companies for each artist rises from 62 thousand to 75 thousand euros, against a cost of missions that can vary from 120 thousand to 150 thousand euros net of record investments. To this contribution is added, in the case of bands, EUR 3 thousand for each additional member. In addition, there is an additional Euro 4 thousand for the cover night guest, rising to Euro 8 thousand if it is an international group or artist. For the Nuove Proposte the contribution is 25 thousand euro per project, with an additional 3 thousand euro for each additional member in the case of groups.

'A good point of arrival', according to Mario Limongelli, president of Pmi, 'but at the same time a result that can still be improved, considering the real costs that those who bring a singer to Sanremo have to bear'. It is no coincidence that the parties have agreed to meet again next year to renegotiate with respect to the 2027 edition. For this year's edition, an agreement with the hoteliers is still missing, a chapter on which the municipality is trying to mediate. 'The gap between the average cost of a room in the week of the Festival,' stressed Enzo Mazza, ceo of Fimi, 'and what that same room costs for the rest of the year continues to widen. In 2023 the Festival increase was 350 per cent, in 2025 we are up to 450 per cent. There is no shortage of discographers who, when they went to negotiate overnight stays with hotels, were told that the Rai contributions have increased, so it is only fair that the rooms cost more. A paradox. Someone forgets that our sector is strategic for the economy of the Ligurian city'.