ROYALTIES COLLECTION STARTS IN FOUR DAYS

MBABANE – Only four days remain until the Eswatini Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Society (ESWACOS) takes a significant step forward in the collection of royalties.

During this year’s Eswatini Arts Summit, held at the Institute of Development Management (IDM), Executive Director Mmeli Hlanze announced that royalty collection will commence on April 1. In a recent interview with Music in Africa, Hlanze assured stakeholders that transparency will be a key focus in the distribution process of these royalties. “ESWACOS will hold annual general meetings to report back to rights holders and the public on its collections and distributions. These meetings will provide a platform for accountability,” Hlanze stated.

Music royalties are payments made to rights holders such as songwriters, composers and recording artists for the use of their music, earned whenever it’s played, performed or reproduced.

Process

These royalties are derived from copyrights, which give exclusive rights to creators and are a primary form of payment in the music industry.

It is important to note that the distribution process represents the final stage in the royalty collection effort. This process will employ modern technology to monitor music usage, data anlyse and identify the rightful recipients of the royalties. These technologies are readily available, and ESWACOS, like other collective management organisations (CMOs), will leverage them as part of their distribution strategy.

Additionally, ESWACOS is in the process of developing social and developmental programmes aimed at addressing social security concerns for rights holders. Some of these initiatives, including the establishment of a development fund, are anticipated to be launched within this year.

Hlanze also mentioned that the organisation aims to enhance its engagement with local artists and stakeholders in order to better understand their needs and provide support. This engagement will aim to empower artists by promoting their rights and ensuring they receive fair compensation for their work.

In line with the upcoming royalty collection, ESWACOS is promoting awareness about the importance of copyright and neighbouring rights among artists in Eswatini. More educational workshops and training sessions are being planned to help artists understand the complexities of copyright law and how it can benefit their creative careers.

These initiatives not only aim to foster a better understanding of rights among artists, but also encourage them to register with the organisation to benefit from royalty collection. By increasing artist registration, ESWACOS can ensure a broader reach in its collection efforts and more equitable distribution of royalties.

Growth

Furthermore, Hlanze indicated that a commitment to fair and transparent practices will support the continued growth of the creative industry in Eswatini.

By ensuring that artists are compensated for their work, ESWACOS aims to strengthen the local music and arts scene, enabling artists to invest more time and resources into their craft.

The upcoming annual general meetings will serve as an essential touchpoint for artists and stakeholders to voice their experiences and share feedback about the royalty collection process. ESWACOS is striving to ensure that these meetings promote open dialogue and facilitate a deeper understanding of the organisation’s operations within the creative sector.

The impending launch of royalty collections signifies a major milestone for the Eswatini creative industry. With the support of modern technology and a commitment to transparency, ESWACOS is poised to transform the landscape for artists in Eswatini. Through continued engagement and development, the organisation aims to enhance the artistic community, fostering an environment where creativity can flourish and artists receive the recognition and remuneration they deserve.

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