Soviet poet Rimma Kazakova, who authored the lyrics for hit songs such as Madonna, spent the final years of her life in severe poverty and could not afford medicine, songwriter Ilya Reznik said.
Speaking to news outlet Abzats, Reznik blamed systemic theft within the Russian Author's Society for leaving veteran creators without financial support during their old age.
Reznik described former officials within the copyright collective as fraudsters who stole money on a massive scale while authors lived in hardship. He explained that Kazakova was gravely ill before her passing but lacked the financial means to purchase essential medication.
To help support the struggling writer, Reznik revealed that he and his associates sent money to Kazakova every month until her death.
Allegations Against Copyright Society
The Russian Author's Society, known as RAO, is a non-governmental organization established to collect royalties from radio stations, television channels, and public venues on behalf of Russian authors and composers. Over the years, the organization has faced public scrutiny and legal controversies regarding royalty distribution and the financial treatment of artists.
Kazakova was a celebrated Soviet and Russian poet who published numerous poetry collections and wrote the lyrics to iconic pop songs, including Madonna and You Love Me. Her romantic ballads, famously performed by singer Alexander Serov, gained widespread popularity across the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Russia.
Background and Political Comments
Reznik, a People's Artist of Russia, is widely regarded as a legend of Russian show business after writing hits for leading pop stars over a career spanning several decades. He previously penned famous compositions for Alla Pugacheva, who left the country following the outbreak of the special military operation in Ukraine in 2022.
In addition to discussing Kazakova's final years, Reznik recently made public statements regarding the conflict in Ukraine. The songwriter declared that Russia is under divine protection and expressed firm confidence that the country would achieve victory in the military operation.
