SA: Gloria Bosman joins SAMRO board

SAMRO says Bosman’s appointment strives for greater female inclusion, not only within the collective management organisation (CMO) itself but the music industry as whole. It follows the recent appointment of the CMO’s chief executive officer Annabell Lebethe and chief operations officer Mpho Mofikoe.

“Multiple award winner Gloria Bosman was voted in by members to help make key decisions and steer important initiatives on behalf of the organisation,” SAMRO chairperson Nicholas Maweni said.

“The executive management of SAMRO is pleased that it has made exemplary progress appointing women in the organisation’s leadership, with about 65% of all employees at SAMRO and 71% of senior management being women.”

According to SAMRO’s memorandum of incorporation, every year members rotate a third of the board by electing directors to oversee the management, with special attention paid to governance and strategy.

Among other changes to SAMRO’s board, Ryan Hill was reappointed, while Sipho Sithole and David Alexander stepped down. No nominations have been received from SAMRO's members for the publisher position.

A preliminary study revealed by SAMRO earlier this year revealed that women in the music industry remain poorly represented. According to the research, women are largely excluded from key decision-making positions within the industry and face numerous challenges that lead to their marginalisation.

“The study helped us better understand the causes of gender imbalance to change the unfair position women still find themselves in, and to play a leading role in improving the situation and advancing women in the industry,” Maweni said.

“SAMRO wanted a more detailed, qualitative picture of the experiences and views of women in the industry, as seen through the eyes of a select group of women music makers, to better understand the gender imbalance in its membership.”

Bosman is a jazz, rock, and gospel singer, as well as a producer, composer, vocalist and presenter. She has won multiple South African Music Awards and has been nominated for KORA and Naledi awards. She has released six solo albums and has performed in several countries including the UK, France, Finland, Australia, Nigeria, Namibia and Zimbabwe. She has also taken part in a three-country South American tour.