CAPASSO Opens New CSI Call, Inviting Members To Submit Funding Proposals

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By Viranova Music Desk06 Jul 2026Music

CAPASSO is calling on South African music creators, publishers and rights holders to submit proposals for the next cycle of its Corporate Social Investment initiative.

The organisation has opened submissions for the new CSI cycle, inviting members to submit proposals for projects rooted in education, empowerment and creative-sector growth.

The call follows the first cycle of the CSI programme, which supported ten recipients across four areas: education, events, women in music specialised projects and community-benefiting initiatives.

For CAPASSO, the programme forms part of a broader effort to invest back into the creators, publishers and communities connected to South Africa’s music economy.

Speaking on the opening of this year’s call, CAPASSO CEO Jotam Matariro said the first cycle showed the impact that focused, community-led support can have across the industry.

“Our first CSI cycle showed us the impact that focused, community-led investment can have across the music industry. We are energised by what our members achieved and are excited to open the door once again for new proposals. We encourage our members to come forward with projects that reflect the spirit of education, empowerment and growth that this initiative was built on,” Matariro said.

That framing matters.

South African music is often discussed through hit songs, live events, viral clips and award nominations. But the industry’s long-term health depends on the less glamorous systems behind the music: training, rights literacy, project funding, legal awareness, community access, women-led initiatives and platforms that help creators understand how to sustain themselves.

The new call is focused on three broader areas: education, empowerment and fostering growth.

Through education, CAPASSO is looking at projects that provide access to essential knowledge, skills and resources for aspiring and established music professionals. This includes workshops, training programmes and other educational initiatives that can strengthen how creators navigate the industry.

That is especially important in a market where many creators learn the business only after they have already been exposed to contracts, unpaid royalties, unclear splits or poor release planning.

The empowerment focus looks at opportunities that help creatives develop their talents, build sustainable careers and gain greater control over their artistic and professional journeys. These may include mentorship programmes, funding support for creative projects, or initiatives that give music professionals stronger tools to participate in the industry.

The growth pillar is centred on the long-term development of the music ecosystem. This includes investment in infrastructure, innovation, industry events, research and collaborative platforms that help strengthen the sector beyond individual projects.

That is where the call becomes more than a funding notice.

It becomes a signal about what the music economy needs next.

Talent alone is not enough.

A brilliant songwriter still needs rights knowledge.

A promising producer still needs access.

An emerging artist still needs release strategy.

A community arts project still needs structure.

A women-led music initiative still needs support that recognises the specific barriers women face across the sector.

Members who want to apply are expected to submit detailed proposals explaining what their projects are, why support is needed and how the funding will be used. Individual grants of up to R200 000 per project will be considered.

Successful recipients will be required to publicise the partnership with CAPASSO and later submit receipts and a detailed report showing how the allocated funding was used.

Projects considered for funding must fall into one of four areas: educational initiatives such as music workshops, certified courses or specialised institutional training; events such as music festivals, shows or ticketed cultural gatherings; women in music specialised projects; or community-benefiting projects that uplift previously disadvantaged communities, even where the project is not directly tied to music.

To qualify, applicants must be CAPASSO members, either as direct composers or through publisher representation. Publishers may also submit proposals directly. Applicants must have earned at least R350 in royalties as CAPASSO members, be based in South Africa, and disclose any other funding received for the proposed project.

Applications must be submitted through the application form on CAPASSO’s website, with the full proposal attached and sent to csi@capasso.co.za by 24 July 2026.

CAPASSO has encouraged members to submit as early as possible because of the shorter submission window for this cycle.

Successful applicants will be contacted directly and guided through the next steps.

The CSI Initiative remains independent of CAPASSO’s daily operations and is overseen by an independent CSI Committee made up of industry leaders. The committee is responsible for reviewing proposals and appointing recipients.

That independence is important because music-sector funding depends on trust. Applicants need to know that proposals are being reviewed through a structured process and that support is being directed toward projects with clear purpose, community value and sector impact.

The call also lands at a time when South African creators are asking harder questions about sustainability.

Who funds the rooms where artists learn?

Who supports the community projects that do not always attract commercial sponsors?

Who helps women-led music initiatives move from intention to implementation?

Who invests in the infrastructure behind the songs?

CAPASSO’s CSI Initiative does not solve every pressure in the music economy, but it points toward a necessary principle: creators need more than applause after the work is finished. They need systems that help them create, protect, release, promote and sustain the work in the first place.

For enquiries, applicants can contact csi@capasso.co.za or call 011 447 8870.

CAPASSO can also be followed for updates on Instagram at @capassohub, on Facebook at CAPASSO, and on LinkedIn at CAPASSO.

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