SAMRO Bursaries

SAMRO Bursaries are funding programs offered by the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) through its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) division. SAMRO provides micro-grants and bursaries to music creators who are Full or Associate SAMRO members, supporting the creation of new original music works and building music business skills. In 2026, SAMRO awarded 120 Music Creation Support Fund grants to members across South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, and Eswatini, bringing the total number of grant recipients to over 660 since the program's inception in 2021.

How SAMRO Bursaries Work

SAMRO CSI runs two main funding programs for music creators, both requiring SAMRO membership (Full or Associate tier).

Music Creation Support Fund (MCSF)

Launched in 2021 as a pilot project, the MCSF provides micro-grants to SAMRO members to contribute toward the creation of new and original music works. The fund supports costs related to recording, production, studio time, mixing, mastering, and featured artist fees. In 2026, SAMRO announced 120 recipients of the MCSF, a significant increase from earlier rounds. The program has supported over 660 grant recipients total since launch.

Applicants must be SAMRO Full or Associate members. The application process requires a project proposal outlining the music to be created, a budget, and supporting materials. Grants are awarded through a competitive selection process.

Music Business Skills Programme

This programme provides bursaries for SAMRO Full and Associate members to enroll in the Music Business Short Learning Course at Boston City Campus. The course covers music industry fundamentals including copyright, contracts, royalty collection, and business management. The bursary covers tuition costs for the short course.

Additional SAMRO CSI Programs

• Concerts SA: A joint South African/Norwegian live music development project housed within SAMRO's CSI division, supporting live music performance opportunities.
• SAMRO Music Archive: Holds over 100,000 music scores and serves as a resource for researchers and musicians, based in SAMRO's Johannesburg offices.

Real-World Example

A SAMRO Full member in Johannesburg applies for the 2026 MCSF to fund the recording of their debut album. They submit a project proposal with a budget of R50,000, outlining costs for studio time, a producer, mixing, and mastering. SAMRO awards a micro-grant that covers a portion of the budget. The member uses the grant to book studio time and hire a producer, then completes the album with additional self-funding. One 2026 recipient, ZAKWE, used MCSF funding to record an album with featured artists, proper studio production, and mixing.

A SAMRO Associate member in Botswana applies for the Music Business Skills Programme bursary. They are accepted into the Boston City Campus Music Business Short Learning Course with tuition fully covered by the bursary. The course teaches them how to navigate royalty collection, contract negotiation, and music publishing, skills they apply to their career as an independent composer.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a music creator in South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, or Eswatini, SAMRO membership is the gateway to these funding opportunities. You cannot apply for MCSF grants or Music Business Skills bursaries without being a SAMRO Full or Associate member.

Join SAMRO first. Membership is open to composers, lyricists, authors, and music publishers. Once you have Full or Associate membership status, you become eligible for CSI programs.

The MCSF micro-grant is specifically designed for creating new music, not for general living expenses or equipment purchases. When applying, focus your budget on concrete production costs: studio time, engineering, mixing, mastering, and featured artist fees. Do not try to stretch the grant across the entire project budget. As one 2026 recipient advised, pick one part of the project the fund needs to cover rather than trying to spread it thin.

The Music Business Skills Programme bursary is an opportunity to gain formal music business education at no cost. If you are self-managed and lack formal training in music industry practices, this course covers the fundamentals that independent artists need to protect their rights and maximize their income.

Related Opportunities

• Music Scholarships Directory for other African and international funding opportunities
• Performing Rights Organizations Directory to learn about PROs in your region
• Music Schools Directory to find music education programs in Africa
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your streaming earnings alongside grant income
• Visit the SAMRO CSI page for current application deadlines and guidelines