Composers Association of South Africa

[Colin]

This media release courtesy of JTComms:

SAMRO SIGNS MAJOR MUSIC REPRODUCTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITH UK’S MCPS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2007 Johannesburg:

In a significant development for the domestic music industry, the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) has entered into an historic agreement with the UK-based Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (MCPS).

The just-concluded licensing agreement is for the administration of reproduction rights —commonly referred to as ‘mechanical rights’— in musical works in South Africa. It allows SAMRO to issue licences to music users in South Africa for the reproduction of musical works in the repertoire of MCPS which forms part of an alliance with the UK’s PRS (Performing Rights Society).

SAMRO has been administering performing rights in musical works for public performance, broadcast and diffusion services for over 40 years, and this is the first agreement it has signed with a rights organisation in the UK for mechanical rights. This is a new area of activity for SAMRO and follows on from the organisation’s stated intent mid-2006 to enter the mechanical rights administrative terrain.

Leon van Wyk, who heads the International Affairs division at SAMRO, said the organisation was “delighted” at the inking of the agreement. "We are delighted to have signed this agreement with the MCPS on behalf of our composer-songwriter-publisher members in this developed market. ”This augurs well for us, in view of the problems encountered historically both by our members and our affiliates in receiving their just dues from the exploitation of their musical works in the field of mechanical rights. The conclusion of this agreement provides a basis that gives SAMRO members peace of mind. We treasure our cordial business relationship with our counterparts and look forward to maintaining an excellent working relationship with MCPS in the future."

Karen Buse, Executive Director of International Affairs at the MCPS-PRS Alliance was equally as upbeat.

"MCPS is pleased to enter into this arrangement with SAMRO and we are confident this will herald a new era in mechanical rights licensing in South Africa. “The MCPS-PRS Alliance has had a very productive relationship with SAMRO over many years and we look forward to working with them on mechanical rights issues. The MCPS repertoire is often represented in foreign territories by sub-publishers but there are still important works which will flow through this agreement.” This is the 25th mechanical rights reciprocal agreement which SAMRO has concluded since declaring its intention in mid-2006 to administer mechanical reproduction rights.

-- About SAMRO:
SAMRO is governed by a member-elected Board of Directors, consisting of publishers and songwriters alike. Apart from its members, the organisation also serves music-user customers, offering them a comprehensive repertoire of copyright-protected music for broadcast, diffusion services, on-line transmission and public performance.

SAMRO has been administering the performing rights in musical works of songwriters, composers, lyricists and music publishers for more than 40 years. That tradition has continued to evolve today in an organisation representing close to 7000 members, and millions of other creators and publishers globally.

-- About MCPS:
The MCPS is a part of the MCPS-PRS operational alliance that collects and distributes 'mechanical' royalties generated from the recording of music onto many different formats. This income is distributed to their members - writers and publishers of music. For the record, PRS collects and distributes licence fees for the public performance and broadcast of musical works.

Websites: http://www.samro.org.za & www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk

[Colin]

By the way......

What the release above doesn't spell out is that while SAMRO has gained 25 international reciprocal agreements with sister collection societies, SARRAL has in fact LOST all of these agreements.

Many foreign societies have complained that they received no royalties from SARRAL for years and have known about the problems there for quite some time.

It's very encouraging for me that these reputable international bodies are "voting with their feet" and walking away from SARRAL. It demonstrates quite clearly that I'm not the only one who notices that SARRAL's rotten structure is facing collapse.

Regards - Colin

[Piet van Wyk de Vries]

I have noticed recently when putting an album into production that the plant still required the SARRAL clearance, as well as the NORM clearance of tracks. But I have not been asked for a SAMRO one yet. When will this become obligatory (is it already?), and also, when will the SARRAL one become superfluous?

Not to worry though, the album I pressed are all original works administered by NORM, but it would be good to know for the future.

Also, will,( or are,) SAMRO be administering the mechanical royalties of SA writer like myself? I am currently with NORM, and have not recently had troubles with them, but another option would be cool to have.
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[Colin]

Hi Piet,

SAMRO will certainly be administering mechanicals for SA composers. They will be an effective one-stop-shop, similar to the MCPS-PRS setup in the UK.

You should talk to them directly and find out what is best for you. NORM does not administer for freelance works (ie specially-composed works - eg for TV & film). This was previously SARRAL's area, but since they have been using anywhere between 60-80% of royalties collected to cover their admin costs (as per their own financial statements), most composers will now have the option of getting SAMRO to do this job, for far less percentage deducted and certainly within the CISAC prescribed limit of 30%.

NORM are very efficient and deduct a minimal amount so you may decide to stay with them. Every composer needs to make his/her own decision.....

Regards - Colin