Association of Independent Record Companies South Africa

By early 2005, the feeling that the Local Music committee at RISA was proving to be ineffective had developed among independent South African record companies, and therefore it become imperative that an Independent Association representing Independent record companies be formed.

SAMRO , MOSHITO and DAC provided early support and momentum to the process, most notably MOSHITO in hosting the summit at the Sunnyside Hotel on June 15th 2005 at which an interim committee was mandated by the delegates to establish the new organisation.

A feedback session was held at MOSHITO 2005 at which the aims and aspirations of the members with regard to the new organisation were further explored.

Following MOSHITO 2005 a working document was created and circulated to the Indies and Government, and suggestions and feedback were received.

Subsequently an Interim Committee was formed at the end of 2005 and began setting in motion a strategic plan to register the organisation and map the way forward.

The research document presented at the Sunnyside Hotel was extremely useful in highlighting different worldwide models for Independent associations and this research was dissected, debated and adapted for use when considering the way forward for the new organisation.

In May 2006 AIRCO (Association of Independent Record Companies) was registered as a section 21 non profit association and had its first AGM (Annual General Meeting) on the 21st September 2006.

The official elected executive committee members were:

Irfaan Gillan (Chairman & Head – Government Liaison)
Harvey Roberts (Deputy Chairman & Head - International Liaison
Ken Haycock (Head – Broadcast & New Media)
Antos Stella (Head – Marketing & Membership)
Eugene Mthethwa (Head – Anti-Piracy)
Alex Agulnik (Head – Financial & Legal)
Dodo Monamodi (Marketing & Membership)
Tebogo Sithathu (Anti-Piracy)

In March 2007 AIRCO started a series of nationwide workshops and a membership drive, which boosted the ranks of the Organisation to around 130 members by September 2007. The Organisation was also active in all it's mandated activities - see the News and Press Releases sections of the website for details.

In July 2007, Chairman Irfaan Gillan resigned to pursue business interests outside of the music industry. Deputy Chairman Harvey Roberts held the reins until the AIRCO AGM on 27 September 2007, where a New Board was elected. See the AIRCO Board page for further details on the Board Members.

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