ABOUT
About SAMRO
The primary role of the Southern African Music Rights Organisation is to administer Performing Rights on behalf of our members.
We do so by licensing music users (such as television and radio broadcasters, live music venues, retailers, restaurants, promoters and shopping centres), through the collection of licence fees which are then distributed as royalties.
Partners
SAMRO maintains powerful relationships with music industry players, legal bodies and other institutions that strengthen our position as the champion of music rights.
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Our Story
Since 1961, SAMRO has been South Africa’s music rights champion. We protect the rights of composers and authors (music creators) both locally and internationally. Collecting licence fees from music users – television broadcasters, radio stations, in-store radio stations, pubs, clubs, retailers, restaurants, and all other businesses that broadcast, use, or play music.
SAMRO also plays a vital role in funding and supporting music and arts education through SAMRO's Corporate Social Investment (CSI). It also boosts the local music industry by hosting regular seminars and workshops, and supporting conferences, to help foster and develop creativity across all categories and genres of music.
SAMRO is committed to being a world-class African copyright administration business that upholds the highest standards of corporate governance, business ethics, and management in its quest to make a valuable and lasting contribution to the lives of its members, to South African cultural heritage, and to the music industry in general.
SAMRO also plays a vital role in funding and supporting music and arts education through SAMRO's Corporate Social Investment (CSI). It also boosts the local music industry by hosting regular seminars and workshops, and supporting conferences, to help foster and develop creativity across all categories and genres of music.
SAMRO is committed to being a world-class African copyright administration business that upholds the highest standards of corporate governance, business ethics, and management in its quest to make a valuable and lasting contribution to the lives of its members, to South African cultural heritage, and to the music industry in general.
Our Purpose
Create Value
To create value for the creators and users of music.
Promote Value
To actively promote the value of copyright.
Protection
To protect the intellectual property rights of writers, composers and music publishers by licensing music users.
Royalties
To ensure that members whose works are broadcast and played commercially are paid their royalties from licence fees collected by SAMRO.
The Value Of Copyright
Copyright is a set of exclusive rights granted to the original songwriter or composer. These rights ensure the author receives his or her due in the form of royalties earned from the reproduction, distribution, and adaptation of his or her work.
South Africa is a member of the International Copyright Union. All member countries are committed to ensuring reciprocal copyright protection for each other’s musical works.\
South Africa is also a signatory to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, which is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and was first accepted in Switzerland in 1886.
Each signatory to the Berne Convention is required to recognise the copyright of the works of authors from other signatory countries, in addition to the copyright of its own nationals. The convention also stipulates that member states must provide for strong minimum standards for copyright law.
In South Africa, copyright is regulated in terms of the Copyright Act (No. 98 of 1978)
South Africa is a member of the International Copyright Union. All member countries are committed to ensuring reciprocal copyright protection for each other’s musical works.\
South Africa is also a signatory to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, which is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and was first accepted in Switzerland in 1886.
Each signatory to the Berne Convention is required to recognise the copyright of the works of authors from other signatory countries, in addition to the copyright of its own nationals. The convention also stipulates that member states must provide for strong minimum standards for copyright law.
In South Africa, copyright is regulated in terms of the Copyright Act (No. 98 of 1978)
Rights Administration & Licensing
SAMRO administers the copyright and royalties of its members – being primarily music composers, authors and publishers.
Members who are composers and songwriters assign the rights of their musical works to SAMRO to administer.
SAMRO, in turn, uses the assignments to license individuals and businesses that use music for business or commercial purposes. This includes shopping centres, nightclubs, television and radio broadcasters, and so on.
SAMRO collects these licence fees from music users, which are paid out to members in the form of royalties during annual distribution cycles (after administration costs are deducted).
By following simple procedures and paying the appropriate fees, individuals and businesses can use musical works administered by SAMRO. This will ensure that creators are rewarded for the public use of their intellectual property.
Members who are composers and songwriters assign the rights of their musical works to SAMRO to administer.
SAMRO, in turn, uses the assignments to license individuals and businesses that use music for business or commercial purposes. This includes shopping centres, nightclubs, television and radio broadcasters, and so on.
SAMRO collects these licence fees from music users, which are paid out to members in the form of royalties during annual distribution cycles (after administration costs are deducted).
By following simple procedures and paying the appropriate fees, individuals and businesses can use musical works administered by SAMRO. This will ensure that creators are rewarded for the public use of their intellectual property.
SAMRO On The Global Stage
Through its relationships with international collecting societies, SAMRO provides a valuable service to over three million music creators worldwide.
SAMRO is a member of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), enabling it to represent the interests of its composers, authors and publishers on a global scale.
SAMRO is a member of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), enabling it to represent the interests of its composers, authors and publishers on a global scale.
- Several of SAMRO’s senior managers and officials serve on various committees of CISAC – thereby representing the interests of South African composers, authors and publishers within this important international body.
- SAMRO is involved in various CISAC initiatives in the SADC region and elsewhere in Africa, which also involve the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
- SAMRO has been a member of CISAC’s African Committee since 1994, and held the chairmanship of the African Committee from 2000 to 2005.
- In addition to SAMRO’s activities in Africa through CISAC, its Board of Directors is always looking for ways to become proactively involved in assisting fellow African societies in the development of collective administration in their countries. SAMRO aims to ensure that members receive the correct royalties for the use of their music on the African continent.