Music organisations impart valuable information

By Letlhogonolo Mosete

Intellectual property rights education came to the fore as music rights associations came to shed light to artist from previously disadvantaged communities regarding royalty income. Representatives of SAMRO, SAMPRA, CAPASSO, RISA, AIRCO, MASA and the DTI passed valuable information to upcoming and established music artists and music businesses on how to manage and grow a music business at Es’kia Mphahlele Library recently.

The main aim of the workshop was to educate artists on the value and protection of IP rights and music registration. The different organisations informed artists on the royalty system and royalty receiver criteria. They also identified resources for music production and master copy ownership.

“There are six royalties in total that an artist can get from one single song,” said Stanley Khoza from the Association of Independent Record Companies of South Africa who was a guest presenter. So if one original song goes viral and is registered correctly with all the relevant entities, an artist can get paid six times. This can only happen if an artist knows which channels to follow in terms of registering their brand and company.

“Black ownership is where we are trying to move,” said

Music business is not a celebrity business and,in order to have a successful business, music business owners should convert their businesses into solid structures. Since the music industry was a lively industry, artists needed to be fully involved in it. They should have a clear understanding of how

Francina Ntsimane from the Gauteng Department of Economic Development. The aim was to make artists aware not to relinquish their copyrights when returning to their studios. They needed to be aware of copyright and performance protection legislation and what it meant to them as artists to have copyright on their own creative ideas and music.

the industry works and what channels need to be followed in order to run a successful business.

The participants were treated to the presence of the famous Selaelo Selota, a jazz artist, who advised upcoming

“There are six royalties in total that an artist can get from one single song,”

Stanley Khoza from the Association of Independent Record Companies of South Africa.

a guitarist about running a label.”Everyone who attended left with more knowledge on the Copyright Amendment Bill 2017, the Performance Protection Amendment Bill 2016, the music value chain,

record labels, needle time, performance royalty payment, brand management and many more. The workshop will assist artists to grow their businesses and music endeavours.

artists and music business owners that “[l]iberation has to do with the psyche. It’s all up to you to make sure that you are successful. Hard work and dedication are key to being successful and knowing that you as a drummer or

One of the speakers addressing attendees at the music awareness event