The Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) will hold the second leg of its national member engagement programme in KwaZulu-Natal from 26 to 29 August 2026, providing in-person support on copyright, royalties and catalogue management.
The State of Your Music: SAMRO Service Week will run alongside the KZN Music Imbizo at the UNISA Durban Campus on KE Masinga Road. It follows the first leg held in Johannesburg in May and June.
The four-day activation will offer walk-in consultations, educational sessions and help with outstanding administrative matters for members and prospective members.
Topics and administrative support
Issues covered will include:
- registration of musical works
- ownership splits
- publishing and collaboration agreements
- live performance reporting
- banking and contact details
- submission of required documentation
SAMRO said administrative and rights-management gaps can affect royalty payments, including cases where works are not registered, ownership percentages are incorrectly recorded or live performances are not reported.
The organisation said the programme will also help creators understand how royalties are generated and distributed across areas including streaming, radio, television and live performances.
“Although SAMRO maintains a mobile office presence in KwaZulu-Natal, the limited use and reach of this service may restrict some members’ access to the full spectrum of SAMRO support,” Nobambo Goduka, SAMRO general manager, said.
“The Durban Service Week has therefore been designed to provide more comprehensive member access, offering an expanded range of services, educational engagements and one-on-one assistance to better address members’ needs.”
Royalty education and member benefits
The programme will cover music copyright, royalty earnings, catalogue management, live performance royalties, publisher and Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) compliance, and songwriter agreements.
Members will also be able to receive information about SAMRO’s member benefits, including the SAMRO Retirement Annuity Fund and funeral benefit support, as well as its education, bursary and music development programmes.
Goduka said the organisation’s focus was on helping creators resolve issues that could affect their income.
“We want composers, authors, producers and publishers to leave these sessions with updated records, resolved queries, a clearer understanding of their rights and royalties, and greater confidence in how their music generates income,” she said.
The service week is also open to creators, composers, producers and publishers considering joining SAMRO, giving prospective members an opportunity to learn more about collective management and the administration of music rights.
The initiative forms part of SAMRO’s broader efforts to improve royalty awareness and encourage creators to maintain accurate records and proactively manage their catalogues.
