20/11/2024
COLLECTIVE MANAGEMENT ORGANISATIONS (CMOs)
In the music industry, Collective Management Organisations “CMOs” are organisations appointed by rightsholders to administer the licensing of the rightsholders’ music and collect royalties on behalf of the said rightsholders.
Rather than rightsholders handling individual requests for music usage, CMOs issue blanket licences to users on behalf of rightsholders. Blanket licences grant users access to the rightsholders’ entire repertoire in exchange for a licence fee. CMOs collect the licence fees and pay them over to rightsholders in the form of royalties.
This streamlined approach benefits both users and rightsholders by simplifying the licensing process and ensuring that rightsholders receive compensation for the use of their music.
Some forms of music usage falls outside the mandate of CMOs. For instance, a user who wishes to use music in synchronisation with visual media, e.g in film, advertisement, or video game would need to obtain permission directly from the relevant rightsholder.
We’ve created an infographic to help you remember the main CMOs in South Africa and the rights administered by each CMO. To make it easier, we have grouped the CMOs by the copyright they represent, namely, the copyright in the composition and the copyright in the recording.
SAMRO - Southern African Music Rights Organisation
SAMRO administers Performance Rights i.e. the public performance of compositions. When a composition is played on radio, in a restaurant, or performed live, royalties are owed to the composers of that composition. SAMRO’s rightsholders are composers and music publishers.
CAPASSO-Composers, Authors, and Publishers Association
CAPASSO administers Mechanical Rights. This is the right that arises when a composition is reproduced from one format to another e.g. When a composition is downloaded from a digital service platform, when a CD or vinyl is created etc. CAPASSO’s rightsholders are composers and music publishers.
SAMPRA – South African Music Performance Rights Association
SAMPRA administers Needletime Rights, also known as Neighbouring Rights. This is the right that arises when a sound recording is played in public e.g. when a sound recording is broadcasted on radio. SAMPRA’s rightsholders are record companies (or independent artists who own their sound recordings) and performers who perform on the said sound recordings.
IMPRA - Independent Music Performance Rights Association
IMPRA is an alternative to SAMPRA. Like SAMPRA, IMPRA administers Needletime Rights.
IMBOKODO
Imbokodo is an alternative to SAMPRA and IMPRA. Like SAMPRA and IMPRA, IMBOKODO administers Needletime Rights.
RAV – RISA Audio Visual
RAV collects royalties which arise when a music video is performed in public e.g. when a music video is played on TV. Additionally, RAV collects royalties payable when a sound recording is dubbed e.g. when sound recordings are reproduced by jukebox operators. RAV’s rightsholders are record companies (or independent artists who own their sound recordings).
AIRCO - The Association of Independent Record companies of South Africa
AIRCO is an alternative to RAV. Like RAV, AIRCO collects royalties that arise when a music video is performed in public. Unlike RAV, AIRCO does not administer sound recording dubbing rights.
