The workshops recently held in Johannesburg and Cape Town were very well attended, both by key strategic partners and by a diverse range of independent artists and record companies.

With over 120 attendees at the Johannesburg workshop held on March 27th at the Bassline in Newtown, and over 50 attending the Cape Town workshop of March 30th, AIRCO is quickly attaining its goal of increasing membership nationally from 100 members to over 250.

 

The amazing diversity of independent record labels was reflected at the workshop with attendees ranging from Afrikaans and Christian labels, to world music, traditional, dance and hip-hop labels. While the hundreds of independent record labels in South Africa reflect the rich diversity of the country’s musical talent, their challenges as smaller independent labels are remarkably similar.

Many at the workshop spoke of music piracy, the difficulties in breaking into commercial radio or retail, and the lack of knowledge and infrastructural support available to smaller artists and labels. These are just some of the key issues that AIRCO is already addressing since its inception in 2006. The country-wide AIRCO workshops represent AIRCO’s commitment to supporting and representing independent labels, as Chairman Irfaan Gillian explains “The AIRCO road show is an opportunity for independent record labels around the country to engage with AIRCO, to voice their concerns and to network with each other. It is also a platform for indies to learn about the important goals that AIRCO and its strategic partners will be striving to achieve on their behalf. We are happy that the attendance at the workshops so far has reflected the diversity, passion, and talent within the independent music industry.” 

AIRCO has set specific goals for 2007 and has critically secured the support of the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) who were represented at the workshop in Johannesburg by Mr. Glenn Masokoane and in Cape Town by Mr Tale Motsepe, the Director of Creative Industries at the DAC. Both representatives pledged DAC support to AIRCO and its goals as Mr. Motsepe explained, “The Department of Arts & Culture has committed its support to AIRCO and to assisting the independent music sector’s goals in terms of development of local content, access to broadcast media and to challenge traditional monopolies within the music industry. We are engaging with AIRCO as the legitimate and recognized representative body of independent labels to find creative solutions to job creation, BEE in the sector, piracy, support for small businesses, and intellectual property related issues.”

The DAC representatives suggested a number of possible government interventions that could be used to support the industry, including public and private funding initiatives similar to those taking place in the film industry. Other possible initiatives could include the so-called “blank tape levy” which would be applied to all blank media formats with revenue being returned to the industry specifically to support locally based record companies.

AIRCO will be providing a host of infrastructural and lobbying support structures to its members with the first being the launch of its website, www.airco.org.za . The web-site will contain valuable information for indie labels as well as allow all AIRCO members to have a link to their web-sites. The AIRCO web-site will become a tool for communication amongst indie labels and provide a database of resources and support for these labels.

AIRCO will continue with its Workshop Roadshow across the country to increase and secure its mandate to speak on behalf of independent record companies and labels in South Africa. Once it has attained its targeted mandate, AIRCO will proceed with its lobbying efforts with broadcasters and collecting societies to negotiate collective licensing agreements for the rights to use sound recordings and music videos owned or controlled by its members.

AIRCO will also weigh up various options to improve local content usage by South African broadcasters. Besides free interview opportunities, other areas of concern under investigation are the lack upfront and back announcements for local songs play-listed, play-listing procedures, reporting of airplay and payola.

AIRCO was formed in 2006 as with the specific vision to grow the market share of independent record companies, improve the visibility of independent music and artists, and promote key issues such as market access and cultural diversity in all national, regional and international policies.

In the short time since its inception, AIRCO has been recognised as the South African representative ‘Indie’ body by worldwide coalitions of independent record companies such as the World Wide Independent Network (WIN), IMPALA (Europe), AIM (United Kingdom), A2IM (America), and AIR (Australia) among others.  AIRCO is also a founding member of the independent digital collecting agency MERLIN.

AIRCO will be taking the workshop Roadshow to various provinces with dates to be announced.

For more information please contact Lara Preston (011) 447 8283, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it