AIRCO’s Self-Regulatory Functions

Within the independent recorded music sector, AIRCO performs several important industry functions, including:

• Representing and advancing the interests of independent record companies throughout South Africa.
• Administering the collection and equitable distribution of audio-visual royalties due to independent rights holders.
• Promoting compliance with South African copyright legislation and industry best practice.
• Supporting accurate rights management and industry metadata to improve royalty tracking and reporting.
• Developing governance standards that encourage fairness, accountability, and professionalism across the independent music sector.
• Promoting ethical business practices and protecting members against piracy, copyright infringement, and the unlawful exploitation of sound recordings.
• Providing industry education, capacity-building programmes, royalty awareness initiatives, and professional development opportunities for members and the broader music community.
• Collaborating with broadcasters, digital service providers, government institutions, collecting societies, and other industry stakeholders to strengthen South Africa’s recorded music ecosystem.

Through its governance framework, regulatory compliance, and commitment to transparency, AIRCO continues to strengthen the independent music sector by ensuring that independent record companies are represented, protected, empowered, and fairly compensated for the exploitation of their intellectual property.