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 (Recording Industry of South Africa)

• Begin by registering with RiSA via its online portal. 
• 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 of R500, in addition to a once-off ISRC code administration fee 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 (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 to obtain a Notification of Videogram form.

SAMRO (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. 
  • For publishers, follow this link. 
• After four weeks, follow up with SAMRO (via email 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. 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 will depend on meeting certain criteria as stipulated by the organisation.

 CAPASSO (Composers, Authors and Publishers Association)

• Writers and publishers must also register with CAPASSO 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 OR as a publisher.[2] 
• Joining fees are R100 (writer/composer) and R250 (publisher), and a full list of membership rules is published on the CAPASSO website. 
• Successful registration will give you access to the CAPASSO online portal (Pan-African Licensing Hub), where you/your publisher can submit notification of works, ISCR codes, split sheets, aggregator details (if applicable), etc.

SAMPRA (South African Music Performance Rights Association)

• Performing artists and record labels – i.e. master/neighbouring rights holders – must register with SAMPRA in order to receive needletime royalties. 
• Depending on your requirements, you can register via the SAMPRA online platform EITHER as a recording artist OR as a record company. (Downloadable hardcopy versions of the application forms are available here.)
• 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.[3] 
• There are no application or membership fees related to joining SAMPRA.

IMPRA (Independent Music Performance Rights Association)

• IMPRA is an alternative needletime royalty collection organisation for recording artists and record labels.[4] 
• IMPRA application forms 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 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 (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 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 on the AIRCO website was not functional. Rather contact the organisation directly at info@airco.org.za 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 involving SAMPRA and the SABC, as well as recent claims relating to the mismanagement of collected royalties.
• [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