185 songs, 649 recordings and 93 versions of a single hit: the size of Roberta Miranda's songwriting empire at 70

Roberta Miranda turned 70 on September 28, and Ecad, the body that collects and distributes public-performance music royalties in Brazil, has opened up the numbers behind the Paraíba-born singer's catalog. She has 185 works and 649 recordings registered in the collective rights management system. The survey, published by Billboard Brasil, covers performances over the past five years. It is a snapshot of the legacy of an artist credited as a pioneer for opening doors to women in sertanejo.

Topping the most-performed list is 'De Igual pra Igual', co-written with Matogrosso of the duo Matogrosso e Mathias. Right behind are 'Majestade, o Sabiá' and 'São Tantas Coisas', both written by her alone. The top 10 is rounded out by 'Vá com Deus', 'Você É Tudo Que Pedi pra Deus', 'Meu Dengo', 'Meus Pedaços', 'Tempo ao Tempo', 'Os Tempos São Outros' and 'Esperando Você Chegar'. The ranking counts performances on radio, TV, in cinemas, on digital platforms, at concerts and in commercial venues.

The most striking figure is in covers: 'Majestade, o Sabiá' has 93 registered versions, making it Roberta's most revisited song by other performers. Next on the covers ranking come 'De Igual pra Igual', 'Vá com Deus', 'Meu Dengo' and 'São Tantas Coisas'. Every new version generates royalties for the songwriter, which is why the catalog works as an asset that keeps paying off decades after release. At 70, Roberta Miranda remains part of the repertoire of anyone singing sertanejo in Brazil, even when she is not the one at the microphone.