SAMRO takes member services to KwaZulu-Natal with four-day Durban activation

The State of Your Music: SAMRO Service Week will be held alongside the KZN Music Imbizo at the UNISA Durban Campus on KE Masinga Road. The programme follows the first leg, which was held in Johannesburg in May and June.

The four-day activation will provide SAMRO members and prospective members with walk-in consultations, educational sessions and assistance with outstanding administrative matters.

Issues covered will include the registration of musical works, ownership splits, publishing and collaboration agreements, live performance reporting, banking and contact details, and the submission of required documentation.

SAMRO said administrative and rights-management gaps can affect royalty payments, including cases where works are not registered, ownership percentages are incorrectly recorded or live performances are not reported.

The organisation said the programme will also help creators understand how royalties are generated and distributed across areas including streaming, radio, television and live performances.

“Although SAMRO maintains a mobile office presence in KwaZulu-Natal, the limited use and reach of this service may restrict some members’ access to the full spectrum of SAMRO support,” SAMRO general manager Nobambo Goduka said.

“The Durban Service Week has therefore been designed to provide more comprehensive member access, offering an expanded range of services, educational engagements and one-on-one assistance to better address members’ needs.”

The programme will cover music copyright, royalty earnings, catalogue management, live performance royalties, publisher and CIPC compliance, and songwriter agreements.

Members will also be able to receive information about SAMRO’s member benefits, including the SAMRO Retirement Annuity Fund and funeral benefit support, as well as its education, bursary and music development programmes.

Goduka said the organisation’s focus was on helping creators resolve issues that could affect their income.

“We want composers, authors, producers and publishers to leave these sessions with updated records, resolved queries, a clearer understanding of their rights and royalties, and greater confidence in how their music generates income,” she said.

The service week is also open to creators, composers, producers and publishers considering joining SAMRO, giving prospective members an opportunity to learn more about collective management and the administration of music rights.

The initiative forms part of SAMRO's broader efforts to improve royalty awareness and encourage creators to maintain accurate records and proactively manage their catalogues.