Registering with collective management organisations in South Africa

This article is intended as a quick, convenient reference guide for registering with South African CMOs. For greater context about what these organisations do and how they operate, please consult our article on music copyrights in South Africa, as well as the collection of articles within this Music Rights section of the Revenue Streams for South African Musicians series.

RiSA(link is external) (Recording Industry of South Africa)

• Begin by registering with RiSA via its online portal(link is external). 
• RiSA will issue you with a unique ISCR code, as well as instructions on how to correctly catalogue your original songs/compositions using this code.[1] 
• To join RiSA, there is an annual membership fee(link is external) of R500, in addition to a once-off ISRC code administration fee(link is external) of R100. 
• Additionally, if your music is played in jukeboxes or if you have music videos being played on TV stations, you need to register with RiSA Audio Visual(link is external) (RAV) through its online portal. This membership is free of charge. 
• Because RAV functions as a collection organisation for jukebox and music video royalties, you will need to provide it with relevant ISCR codes. This can be done through the RiSA online portal, or by emailing info@rav.org.za(link sends e-mail) to obtain a Notification of Videogram form.

SAMRO(link is external) (Southern African Music Rights Organisation)

• If you are an author (songwriter/composer) or publisher – which is to say, if you own the intellectual property rights to any musical works – the next step is to register with SAMRO in order to secure your performance royalties. 
• SAMRO now has an online application platform where members can apply.
  • For composers and authors, follow this link(link is external). 
  • For publishers, follow this link(link is external). 
• After four weeks, follow up with SAMRO (via email(link sends e-mail) or by calling 086 117 2676) to obtain your relation number. An acknowledgment letter with the relation number will be sent to applicants within 72 working hours. 
• When you have received this relation number, you will be able to register on the SAMRO online portal(link is external). This platform will allow you to register your musical works and view your IPI numbers and ISWC codes, and share splits for submitted registrations. You can also use this portal to log your live performances. 
• There are no signup fees or membership fees when you become a SAMRO member, though your membership type(link is external) will depend on meeting certain criteria as stipulated by the organisation.

 CAPASSO(link is external) (Composers, Authors and Publishers Association)

• Writers and publishers must also register with CAPASSO(link is external) in order to collect mechanical royalties – including physical sales and YouTube and streaming royalties). 
• Note: When signing up with CAPASSO, you must elect to register EITHER as a writer/composer(link is external) OR as a publisher(link is external).[2] 
• Joining fees are R100 (writer/composer) and R250 (publisher), and a full list of membership rules(link is external) is published on the CAPASSO website(link is external). 
• Successful registration will give you access to the CAPASSO online portal (Pan(link is external)-African Licensing Hub(link is external)), where you/your publisher can submit notification of works, ISCR codes, split sheets, aggregator details (if applicable), etc.

SAMPRA(link is external) (South African Music Performance Rights Association)

• Performing artists(link is external) and record labels – i.e. master/neighbouring rights holders – must register with SAMPRA(link is external) in order to receive needletime royalties. 
• Depending on your requirements, you can register via the SAMPRA online platform EITHER as a recording artist(link is external) OR as a record company(link is external). (Downloadable hardcopy versions of the application forms are available here(link is external).)
• If you are not signed with a record label, as a recording artist you will also need to submit a Notification of Recorded Performances Form(link is external).[3] 
• There are no application or membership fees related to joining SAMPRA.

IMPRA(link is external) (Independent Music Performance Rights Association)

• IMPRA is an alternative needletime royalty collection organisation for recording artists and record labels.[4] 
• IMPRA application forms(link is external) are available online. 
• The registration steps include:
  • Complete the IMPRA application form.
  • Provide certified copy of ID/passport.
  • Provide proof of address.
  • Provide proof of banking details.
• Available information(link is external) indicates that there are no joining or subscription fees, though a portion of collected revenue (maximum 20%) is reserved by IMPRA as an ‘admin licence fee’.

AIRCO(link is external) (Association of Independent Record Companies)

• Among other industry functions, AIRCO operates as a collector of audio-visual broadcasting royalties – i.e. music video royalties.[5] 
• The registration process for AIRCO requires providing proof of the following documentation:
  • Registration with CIPC(link is external) as a record company.
  • Business/operating address.
  • Certified ID copies of director(s) of company.
  • Valid tax clearance certificate for the company.
  • Banking details.
  • Samples of released music (albums, singles, videos, etc.).
• Note: At the time of writing, the online application form(link is external) on the AIRCO website was not functional. Rather contact the organisation directly at info@airco.org.za(link sends e-mail) or call 011 482 4779. 

Resources and citations

• [1] Consult our articles on <metadata and monitoring> and <digital routes to market> to appreciate why these ISCR codes are so crucial to receiving royalty payments. 
• [2] As a musician, this means that if you already have a <publishing deal> in place, you will not need to register in your personal capacity with CAPASSO. On the other hand, if you register on CAPASSO as a writer (composer), this means that you are essentially registering as a self-publisher on the platform and will be personally responsible for the administration of your music. 
• [3] This is where recording rights information will be inputted for tracking and monitoring purposes. 
• [4] It must be noted that this organisation has been caught up in a controversial needletime royalty payment stand-off(link is external) involving SAMPRA and the SABC, as well as recent claims relating to the mismanagement of collected royalties(link is external).
• [5] AIRCO is, therefore, an alternative collection agency to RAV (discussed under RiSA membership). 

This article is part of the Revenue Streams for African Musicians project, supported by UNESCO’s International Fund for Cultural Diversity in the framework of the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the Siemens Cents4Sense programme, Siemens Stiftung, Goethe-Institut, the National Arts Council of South Africa and Kaya FM. 

Editing by Kalin Pashaliev