A Viranova series - produced with CAPASSO

Music Rights, Answered

Eight questions South African music creators keep asking about rights, royalties, and getting paid - answered on camera by the people at CAPASSO who clear them.

CAPASSO - The Mechanical Rights Hub

An educational collaboration between Viranova and the Composers, Authors and Publishers Association, made to help South African creators understand their rights.

  1. What is CAPASSO and why does it matter to music creators?

    A simple introduction to CAPASSO, who it serves, and why composers, authors, and publishers should understand its role.

    1:02 - Lerato Matsoso, General Manager Operations

  2. Understanding music rights in simple terms

    Mechanical rights, performing rights, master rights, and publishing rights in a way young artists can understand.

    2:42 - Jotam Matariro, Chief Executive Officer

  3. What are mechanical royalties?

    When mechanical royalties arise and why they matter in the life of a song.

    1:09 - Lerato Matsoso, General Manager Operations

  4. How do artists, composers, and publishers earn from digital platforms?

    How royalties are generated from streaming, downloads, YouTube, and other digital uses.

    2:11 - Jotam Matariro, Chief Executive Officer

  5. CAPASSO membership: who should join and why?

    Who can become a member, the benefits, and what creators should prepare.

    1:24 - Lerato Matsoso, General Manager Operations

  6. Music aggregators vs CAPASSO: what is the difference?

    Distributors and aggregators versus CAPASSO - who does what in the value chain.

    1:31 - Jotam Matariro, Chief Executive Officer

    0:44 - Makolobi Madisha, Membership and Communications Assistant Coordinator

  7. Licensing music legally: what users of music need to know

    For brands, filmmakers, content creators, broadcasters, and businesses that put music to work.

    2:20 - Nomfundo Nyakale, Music Licensing Manager

  8. Common mistakes artists make with rights, royalties, and registration

    Registration errors, misunderstood splits, ignored publishing, and the upload-equals-royalties myth.

    3:51 - Lerato Matsoso, General Manager Operations

The closing word

  1. What advice would you like to give to up-and-coming artists?

    The closing word of the series - straight advice for people walking into the industry.

    3:47 - Lerato Matsoso, General Manager Operations

Who answers these questions

  • Jotam MatariroChief Executive Officer
  • Nomfundo NyakaleMusic Licensing Manager
  • Makolobi MadishaMembership and Communications Assistant Coordinator
  • Lerato MatsosoGeneral Manager Operations

Produced by Viranova with the Composers, Authors and Publishers Association (CAPASSO) - The Mechanical Rights Hub. Filmed at the CAPASSO offices, Johannesburg, 2026.

Visit CAPASSO at capasso.co.za