SAMRO Set to Host Second Leg of State of Your Music Service Week in Durban

The Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) is inviting music creators, publishers, members and prospective members in KwaZulu-Natal to participate in the second leg of its national member engagement initiative. The State of Your Music: SAMRO Service Week, will take place from 26 to 29 August 2026 at the KZN Music Imbizo, hosted at the UNISA Durban Campus (60 KE Masinga Road, Durban).

Following the successful Johannesburg leg of the initiative held in May and June 2026, SAMRO is taking the initiative directly to creators in KwaZulu Natal through an accessible, in-person service experience designed to provide education, direct support and one-on-one consultations.

The Durban activation forms part of SAMRO’s broader national effort to improve royalty awareness, strengthen member records, and ensure that creators are fully equipped to participate in the music economy. Recognising that many creators struggle to access specialised rights administration support, SAMRO will provide members with walk-in access to consultants during the four-day programme, allowing attendees to receive assistance without the usual requirement for pre-booked appointments.

Many South African music creators continue to lose income because of avoidable administrative and rights management challenges. These include failing to notify SAMRO of new musical works, incomplete or lack of registration with SAMRO for the administration of a Performing Right in a musical work, outdated banking and contact details, inaccurate split sheets, misunderstandings around publishing and collaboration agreements, and the non-submission of live performance information.

As music consumption grows across streaming platforms, radio, television, live events and digital services, accurate rights administration becomes increasingly important. A single missing registration, incorrect ownership percentage, or unresolved compliance issue can result in royalties being delayed, misallocated, or remaining unclaimed.

Participants will be able to review and update their membership information, submit outstanding documentation, receive guidance on work notifications and catalogue management, and gain a clearer understanding of how royalties are generated and distributed.

“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. 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” said Nobambo Goduka, General Manager: Member Services at SAMRO.

“As we take the second leg of this national programme to Durban and the Music Imbizo platform, our focus is on bringing these services closer to creators in KwaZulu-Natal and ensuring that no member loses income because of preventable administrative or compliance issues. 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.

Whether a creator is emerging or established, this initiative is about empowering them to protect their work, manage their catalogue effectively, and maximise their royalty earning potential.”

The Durban programme will include on-site support, educational sessions and query resolution focused on key areas that directly affect royalty earnings and rights management, including:

Music Copyright:

- Understanding ownership, authorship and the protection of creative work.

Royalty Earnings:

- How royalties are generated, understanding statements, and identifying unclaimed royalties.

Catalogue Management:

- Correct registration of musical works, publisher agreements, collaborations and accurate ownership splits.

Live Performances:

- How live performances generate royalties and why setlist submissions matter.

Publisher and CIPC Compliance:

The importance of maintaining compliant company records and how compliance affects royalty processing.

Songwriter Agreements:

- Key clauses composers and authors should understand when working with collaborators, producers

and publishers.

SAMRO Member Benefits:

- Including the SAMRO Retirement Annuity Fund (SRAF) and Funeral Benefit support.

SAMRO CSI and Development Programmes:

- Understanding the organisation’s education, bursary and music development initiatives available to qualifying members. In addition to servicing existing members, the programme is also aimed at creators, composers, producers and publishers who are considering joining SAMRO and want to better understand the music rights ecosystem.

By bringing these services to the KZN Music Imbizo, SAMRO aims to meet creators where they are, within one of South Africa’s leading music industry gathering platforms, and to encourage proactive rights administration that supports sustainable careers.