As part of my acceptance speech as the new chairman of AIRCO, 

 

I would like to thank all the AIRCO members for showing confidence in the former leadership of AIRCO by re-electing the same Board members into the new and current Executive Committee. It surely reflects the commitment of AIRCO members towards the continuity of the work that has been done. but mostly the delivery of sustainable benefits through proper negotiations by those who qualify on merit and not by compromise.

I would also like to warmly welcome the new board members and to congratulate them in their appointments to the relative Committees.   

It is a humbling experience, and I extend my gratitude to the Executive Committee for showing its confidence in me in entrusting me with the critical role of AIRCO's chairmanship.

It is therefore politically correct to say that AIRCO is leading by example in an era when the country's economy is domestically politically biased, embracing an "all-inclusive" approach towards its growth rather than the perceived race card.

I wish to acknowledge that it is not by default but by the goodwill of all Board members that an African, in particular an African from previously disadvantaged background, an artist and an emerging record label owner, has been entrusted with such a leadership role in the context of the generally perceived nature of people from such backgrounds.

It is also AIRCO's pride to announce the legacy of the appointment of Antos Stella as the first ever Vice Chairlady in South Africa's Music Industry related Organisations, known to be dominated by men.

Both AIRCO's appointments therefore mark a historical event and the legacy established by AIRCO in the history of the music industry that is known to be biased towards the authoritative, white and male dominated leadership even post 1994. 

AIRCO's transformation at its board level co-incides with the unveiling of AIRCO's newly formed " Transformation Portfolio", a positive achievement on its own and an encouraging beginning towards the execution of all plans aimed at building a new industry that embraces South African cultural identities and the diverse nature of our society in line with the equality of all South African languages.

I would like to dub 2008 "AIRCO's Year of Legacy." I believe that 2008 must see all AIRCO committees working towards leaving a long lasting legacy in their relative areas as assigned, by means of:

• delivering tangible benefits for our members
• adopting and executing existing plans from both public and private sectors to realise the practicality of long overdue changes,
• taking the practical lead in influencing economic and socio-political changes within the broader scope of cultural industries and communities
• bringing back both virtual and tangible ownership of the music industry to the rightful owners, who are South Africans by law and not by default.

To all our friends and associates, there is increased room for your participation in  constructive engagement on issues affecting the industry, and finding common grounds towards the betterment of the industry.

It is a South African music industry that belongs to all South Africans and those who subscribe to the values enshrined in the constitution of this country.  

Let AIRCO echo in all nine provinces!

As Madiba would say, I thank you.

Eugene Mthethwa

The Chairman