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The Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO), is a copyright asset management society. It was established by the South African Copyright Act, and aims to protect the intellectual property of music creators by licensing music users, collecting licence fees and distributing royalties to music creators. SAMRO represents more than 15,000 Southern African music composers, lyricists/authors and music publishers. The organisation administers performing rights.

History

The Southern African Music Rights Organisation (name since 1974) was formed in December 1961 under the chairmanship of Dr. Gideon Roos Senior, a former Director-General of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

SAMRO began operations in January 1962 with 40 South African composers and 13 music publishers, taking over from the UK royalty collecting society PRS. In June 1962, SAMRO was accepted as a member of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC). In the same year, Strike Vilakazi, the composer of the anti-apartheid song Meadowlands became the first black member of SAMRO.

On 1 May 2013, SAMRO converted from a company limited by guarantee (a corporate form no longer supported by the Companies Act 71 of 2008) to a non profit company, and now operates under the name of Southern African Music Rights Organisation NPC.

In March 2014, SAMRO announced the transfer of its mechanical rights licensing operation to CAPASSO (Composers Authors and Publishers Association), as recommended by the 2012 Copyright Review Commission Report.

Awards

From 2008 until at least 2020, SAMRO sponsored the Lifetime Achievement Award in Music, in the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) Awards. Past winners have included Johnny Clegg and Caiphus Semenya.

In 2012, SAMRO commemorated its 50th anniversary with a series of events, including the Builders' Awards, which recognised musicians, staff members and others who had contributed to the organisation over the years. David "Strike" Vilakazi, Princess Constance Magogo Ka Dinizulu Buthelezi, Mzilikazi Khumalo, Dorothy Masuka, and SAMRO founder Gideon Roos Snr were all recipients of the awards.

In 2013, SAMRO launched the Wawela Music Awards to pay tribute to South African composers who have made a significant contribution on the international and local music scene. Mbongeni Ngema won the inaugural Recognition Award. It appears that the last awards were given in 2015.

SAMRO continues to sponsor the "SAMRO Highest Airplay Composer Award" at the South African Music Awards.

Global affiliations

SAMRO has reciprocal agreements with 225 collecting societies in 150 countries allowing it to collect music royalties on behalf of its members around the world.

SAMRO is a member of the Confédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Auteurs et Compositeurs (CISAC). SAMRO is involved in CISAC initiatives in Africa, including projects affiliated with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). SAMRO is also accredited with BIEM, an organisation co-ordinating statutory license agreements among different countries.

SAMRO is associated with industry trade fairs and music showcases such as MIDEM in France and the World Music Expo (WOMEX), as well as with bodies such as the South African Music Export Council (SAMEX).

Controversies

In 2019 the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) sued a number of former executives for unlawful enrichment. According to the lawsuit, the members of the leadership of SAMRO overpaid themselves by more than R1.6 Million rand. Sipho Mabuse, Sibongile Khumalo, Loyiso Bala, Arthur Mafokate, Relebogile Mabotja, Gabi Le Roux, Jack Jeremiah Mnisi, Rowlin Naicker, Jordaan Niemand, John Edmond and Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph were alleged to be implicated in the irregular expenditure.

SAMRO would later become the centre of a scandal regarding the underpayment of royalties to artists, much of this taking place during this leadership's time working for the organisation.

See also

• Copyright collective
• Copyright law of South Africa
• Performance rights organisation

References

1. "SAMRO Appoints New Chairperson of the Board | SAMRO". samro.org.za.
2. "Copyright Act of 1978". South Africa.
3. "Company Profile". SAMRO.
4. "Annual Report" (PDF). SAMRO. 2012. p. 4.
5. POSA (Performers' Organization of South Africa). "Needletime Rights".
6. ^ "CISAC: 50 Years of Protecting Intellectual Property Rights". Billboard. 6 November 1976. pp. C-44.
7. "Gideon Roos". South African History Online.
8. Crook, Tim (2002). International Radio Journalism. Routledge. p. 62. ISBN 9780203423233.
9. Mojapelo, Max (2008). Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music. African Minds. p. 24. ISBN 9781920299286.
10. Mojapelo, Max (2008). Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music. African Minds. pp. 24–25. ISBN 9781920299286.
11. "Companies Act 71 of 2008" (PDF). South African Government. 2008.
12. "SAMRO Notes, December 2013" (PDF). SAMRO. 1 December 2013. p. 3.
13. "CAPASSO -The Mechanical Rights hub launched at Music Exchange '14". SAMRO. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
14. "CAPASSO – FAQs" (PDF). CAPASSO.
15. "SAMRO sponsors another spectacular Lifetime Achievement Award". Arts & Culture Trust. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
16. "2020 ACT Awards ceremony announced". Nedbank. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
17. "Johnny Clegg receives the ACT Lifetime Achievement Award". Media Update. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
18. "Caiphus Semenya: ACT Lifetime Achievement Award for Music". Creative Feel. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
19. "SAMRO Celebrates Legacy with Builders' Awards". BizCommunity. 2 July 2012.
20. Tsumele, Edward (28 June 2012). "Music legends honoured by Samro awards". sowetanlive.co.za. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
21. Mathe, Sam (12 March 2013). "Samro unveils categories for first Wawela Awards".
22. "Ngema wins Lifetime Achievement Award". Facebook. Mbongeni Ngema. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2023. ...and earlier this month he scooped a prestigious Inaugural Recognition Award at SAMRO's first Wawela Awards in Sandton.
23. "Gallery". Wawela Music Awards. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
24. "Samro congratulates the winners of the Samro Highest Airplay Composer Award". Bizcommunity. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
25. "Company Profile". SAMRO Foundation.
26. "Annual Report". CISAC. 2012.
27. Coetzer, Diane (31 January 2009). "Pay Pal". Billboard.
28. "Cultural Diversity in Focus at Convention". SAMRO. 21 October 2011.
29. "Annual Report" (PDF). SAMRO. 2007.
30. "Licensed to Play". SAMRO Foundation. January 2013.
31. Ngwako Malatji (10 November 2019). "Musos in trouble with Samro". Sunday World. South Africa. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023 – via PressReader.
32. Madibogo, Julia. "Artists sign petition to force Samro to pay". Citypress. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
33. "South African collecting society in spotlight after gospel star hits out over underpaid royalties | Complete Music Update". Retrieved 22 June 2022.

External links

• Official website

• Music industry associations
• Organisations based in Johannesburg
• Music organisations based in South Africa
• 1961 establishments in South Africa
• Organizations established in 1961