SA: SAMPRA announces new board

The new board comprises performers and representatives from six record companies. The board will be chaired by entertainment law practitioner and music business consultant Dumisani Motsamai, who was voted in by the 12 board members. In total, the board of directors is composed of 14 members including SAMPRA CEO Pfanani Lishivha.

“The meeting was open for attendance to all SAMPRA members and the 2018 annual financial statements were presented,” SAMPRA said after the conclusion of its AGM. “SAMPRA members had the opportunity to vote on special and ordinary resolutions, including voting for a new board of directors.”

The new board members representing the recording industry are Rob Cowling (Gallo Records), Arthur Mafokate (999 Music) and Dharam Sewraj (Bhavani Entertainment). Newly appointed performers' board representatives are Siphokazi Mohapi, Brenda Mtambo, Tresor, DJ Ganyani and Connell Cruise.

"I am honoured and excited to be appointed on the SAMPRA board to represent our incredible musicians," Tresor told Music In Africa. "I hope to work hard with my colleagues to keep building fruitful and creative relationships as well as to find new ways to move our industry forward in every aspect."

Members who have been retained on the board are Sipho Dlamini (Universal Music Group SA), singer Ernie Smith, Andrew Mitchley (Gresham Music Group) and Sean Watson (Sony Music Entertainment).

Arthur Mafokate said: "I am grateful to those that put their faith in my knowledge of the industry by voting for me and I am looking forward to a great future with SAMPRA."

The outgoing SAMPRA board members are Anikki Maswanganye, Charles Kuhn, Joe Niemand, Julita Kok, Loyiso Bala, Mbongeni Ndlovu, Tracy Fraser and former chairperson Adv Joel Baloy, who is also the Music In Africa Foundation's treasurer.

About SAMPRA

SAMPRA is a collective management organisation (CMO) that administers needletime rights on behalf of recording artists and record labels. The CMO is governed by a board in which record companies and recording artists enjoy equal representation. SAMPRA is also a member of the Societies’ Council for the Collective Management of Performers’ Rights (SCAPR), an international federation of needletime CMOs based in Belgium. SCAPR strives to improve the exchange of data and performers’ rights payments across borders.

For more information, visit the SAMPRA official website.