Quick Music Definitions

Here are some Quick Music Definitions to help you guys in case you needed some clarity on some of the terms you were having troubles understanding. 

Music Creator:

Anyone who was involved in the creation of any original piece of music has rights over that music and earns royalties. There are many types of Music Creators and they have different rights.

Composer:

Someone who writes or composes original songs or music. Composers and songwriters have certain rights such as Performing Rights and Mechanical Rights that entitle them to earn royalties whenever their music is used. The royalties they earn through Performing Rights are administered by SAMRO. Mechanical Rights come into effect when music is reproduced mechanically and the royalties derived from this are administered by the Composers, Authors & Publishers Association (CAPASSO).

Lyricist / Author:

The person or persons who write the lyrics to accompany original musical works. Like composers, they also enjoy rights such as Performing Rights, Mechanical Rights, which entitle them to royalties whenever their music is used. Performing Rights are administered by SAMRO. Mechanical Rights pertain to the act of reproducing music mechanically and the royalties earned from this are administered by the Composers, Authors & Publishers Association (CAPASSO). 

Music Publisher:

These are the people who work with musicians to get their music out to a wider audience – they share such rights as Performance Rights and Mechanical Rights over those works with the composer/author/lyricist. Note that Mechanical Rights, which come into effect when music is reproduced mechanically, are managed by the Composers, Authors & Publishers Association (CAPASSO). From 2014, Music Publishers need to join CAPASSO as members to receive the benefit from Mechanical Rights on their works. 

Recording Artist:

These are royalties paid to composers, authors and publishers whenever their music is copied on any kind of recording device – such as when CDs are printed, or when MP3s are sold online. In the past these rights were managed by both SAMRO and NORM separately, but the game changed when SAMRO and NORM established a joint organisation called CAPASSO to handle Mechanical Rights through one administrative body. If you’re a SAMRO or NORM member you need to sign up as CAPASSO member to receive the benefit of Mechanical Rights on your music. 

Performance Rights:

These are royalties paid to composers, authors and publishers whenever their music is performed in public.

Mechanical Rights:

These are royalties paid to composers, authors and publishers whenever their music is copied on any kind of recording device – such as when CDs are printed, or when MP3s are sold online.

Needletime Rights:

These are royalties paid to Recording Artists when a song is used. These are people who help in the recording of music - such as session musicians and backing vocalists.

Source: Samro. www.samro.org.za