SAMRO retains seat on CISAC board

CISAC is the world’s leading network of authors and composers representing 228 societies from 120 countries around the world. It serves more than four million creators in five repertoires including music, audio-visual, theatre, visual arts and literature.

The announcement comes after CISAC’s annual general assembly, where a new board of directors was elected by representatives of constituent member organisations on 2 June. SAMRO’s new term as a board member will run until 2025.

“The election of SAMRO to continue to represent the industry’s interests and be the voice of composers and authors in southern Africa at a global stage is a clear vote of confidence in the organisation and demonstrates that SAMRO continues to enjoy the respect of the global community in our industry,” SAMRO board chairperson Nicholas Maweni said.

With 93% of the votes, SAMRO emerged as the leading collective management organisation (CMO) in Africa and the third-most endorsed organisation globally among other CMOs vying for a seat on the CISAC board.

“It has always been our shared organisational vision to be the leading and most admired CMO in Africa, respected by the global community and members,” Maweni said.

He said a seat at the table where industry issues were being discussed at a global scale would extend SAMRO’s reach and influence, ensuring that members’ interests were given a voice at the highest level.

The CISAC board of directors comprises the CEOs of 20 societies, representing all regions of the world and all CISAC repertoires. The societies represented on the board are SAMRO (South Africa), APRA (Australasia), ARTISJUS (Hungary), ASCAP (US), BMDA (Morocco), BMI (US), DAMA (Spain), GEMA (Germany), JASRAC (Japan), KOMCA (South Korea), PRS for Music (UK), SACD (France), SACEM (France), SACM (Mexico), SADAIC (Argentina), SIAE (Italy), SOCAN (Canada), UBC (Brazil), VEGAP (Spain) and VG BILD-KUNST (Germany).