SOUND-RECORDING INDUSTRY
Performers bear brunt of needle-time rights muddle
Except for a period between 1916 and 1965, there was no legislation for needle-time rights in SA
Public sound recording rights, also known as "needle-time" rights, are under-represented in SA, with only an estimated 15% of potential clients taking licences. The rights are licensed to radio and television broadcasters, retailers, banks, shopping malls, sport stadiums, restaurants and other venues that communicate a sound recording to the public. Except for a period between 1916 and 1965, there was no legislation for needle-time rights in SA. In 1961 the country declined to ratify and become a signatory to the Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organisations. The Recording Industry of SA (Risa) championed a campaign for needle time from 1988 to 2002 when the South African Music Performance Association (Sampra) was created. The association received a section 3(1)a accreditation in 2008, which made SA the 52nd country to introduce these rights. It appointed one member, Risa, and administered the rights on its behalf, but Risa,...
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