Composers, Authors and Publishers Association

CAPASSO (Composers, Authors and Publishers Association) is a non-profit mechanical rights licensing agency based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Founded in 2014 through a partnership between SAMRO and NORM, it licenses the reproduction and distribution of musical works and collects royalties for composers, authors, and publishers across Southern Africa.

How CAPASSO Works

CAPASSO administers mechanical rights, which are triggered whenever a musical work is reproduced. This includes physical reproduction (CDs, vinyl, DVDs) and digital reproduction (streaming, downloads, ringtones, backing tracks). The organization issues mechanical licenses to streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, advertising agencies, filmmakers, and anyone making copies or cover versions of musical works.

CAPASSO was created when SAMRO (South African Music Rights Organisation) transferred its mechanical rights licensing operations to a dedicated entity. SAMRO now handles only performance rights, while CAPASSO handles mechanical rights. NORM (National Organisation for Reproduction Rights in Music) joined forces with SAMRO to establish CAPASSO as a single administrative body for mechanical rights in South Africa.

The organization collects license fees from music users and distributes them as royalties to its members. CAPASSO also partners with Muserk, a global music rights administrator, to collect mechanical royalties from streaming services in North and South America. This partnership helps African artists capture digital royalties from YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Pandora, Tidal, and Deezer in territories outside Africa.

CAPASSO reported approximately $5.1 million in annual revenue as of 2026. The organization has secured multi-territory licensing deals, including a TikTok licensing agreement with SAMRO that covers multiple territories.

Real-World Example

A South African composer affiliates with CAPASSO and registers 30 songs. A streaming service like Spotify reproduces those songs for its South African users. Spotify pays CAPASSO a mechanical license fee based on the number of streams. CAPASSO deducts its administrative fee and distributes the remainder to the composer.

If a South African filmmaker wants to use one of those songs in a movie soundtrack, they must obtain a mechanical license from CAPASSO to legally reproduce the composition. The filmmaker pays a negotiated fee, and CAPASSO passes that royalty to the composer after deducting its administrative costs.

Similarly, if an advertising agency produces a commercial that includes a cover version of a CAPASSO-registered song, the agency must license the mechanical rights from CAPASSO before the commercial airs.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a composer, author, or publisher based in South Africa (or your works are reproduced there), CAPASSO collects mechanical royalties you would otherwise lose. This includes revenue from streaming platforms, physical media, films, advertisements, and cover versions.

Register your works with CAPASSO as soon as they are commercially released. If your music streams on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube in South Africa, CAPASSO collects the mechanical royalties generated by those streams. The Muserk partnership extends collection to the Americas, so if your music streams in the US or Latin America, CAPASSO can capture those royalties too.

Do not confuse CAPASSO with SAMRO. SAMRO collects performance royalties (radio play, live performances, TV broadcasts). CAPASSO collects mechanical royalties (reproduction and distribution). If you are a South African songwriter, you likely need both: SAMRO for performance royalties and CAPASSO for mechanical royalties. Register with each organization for the respective rights they administer.

Territory Covered

CAPASSO administers mechanical rights within South Africa. The organization also extends licensing across Southern Africa through multi-territory agreements. Its partnership with Muserk enables mechanical royalty collection from streaming services in North and South America, covering YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Pandora, Tidal, and Deezer in territories outside Africa.

CAPASSO has secured multi-territory licensing deals, including a TikTok licensing agreement with SAMRO that covers multiple territories.

Membership and Fees

CAPASSO charges joining fees and annual subscription fees set by its Board of Directors:

• Author/Composer Member: R100 joining fee, R100 annual subscription
• Publisher Member: R250 joining fee, R250 annual subscription

Annual membership subscription fees are due on January 1 each year. Only members whose annual subscription is fully paid are eligible to exercise voting rights in that financial year. The membership application process is only complete once the first annual membership fee is received.

Writers and publishers must register as either a writer/composer OR as a publisher. Successful registration grants access to the CAPASSO online portal (Pan-African Licensing Hub) for submitting notification of works, ISRC codes, split sheets, and aggregator details.

Overhead Rate

CAPASSO charges a 12.5% administration fee (commission) on Gross License Revenue, excluding phonomechanical reproductions. This commission funds the licensing and distribution operations of the organization. VAT is applied on top of the commission.

The commission rate is determined by the CAPASSO Board and is published in the membership rules document. The rate is included in distribution statements sent to members.

Royalty Distribution Schedule

CAPASSO distributes royalties throughout the year based on revenue type. The distribution timetable covers all 12 months, with different revenue streams processed on different schedules:

• Transactional royalties: Distributed as they are received and processed
• Blanket License fees: Distributed according to a periodic schedule
• Digital Service Provider royalties: Distributed on a regular cycle

Usage data from broadcast licensees is divided into 30-second units of reproduced works. The distributable royalties for each broadcaster are divided by the number of usage units to determine the rate per unit. Royalties are then distributed at the calculated rate for each usage unit allocated to each participating work.

Reciprocal Agreements

CAPASSO is a CISAC member. The organization partners with Muserk, a global music rights administrator, to collect mechanical royalties from streaming services in North and South America. This partnership helps African artists capture digital royalties from territories outside Africa.

CAPASSO was created through a partnership between SAMRO (South African Music Rights Organisation) and NORM (National Organisation for Reproduction Rights in Music). SAMRO transferred its mechanical rights licensing operations to CAPASSO in 2014, creating a single administrative body for mechanical rights in South Africa.

Multi-territory licensing deals include a TikTok licensing agreement with SAMRO that covers multiple territories across Africa.

Notable Members

CAPASSO's board and membership include prominent South African music industry figures:

• Yvonne Chaka Chaka - "Princess of Africa." CAPASSO Board Member. Elected Vice President of CISAC in May 2020 alongside President Bjorn Ulvaeus. Internationally recognized singer-songwriter with a career spanning decades.
• DJ Cleo (Tlou Cleopas Monyepao) - Elected Composer Board Member in December 2025. 26 years of experience in the music industry. Known for hits in South African house and kwaito music.
• Brenda Mtambo - Deputy Chairperson of CAPASSO Board. Multi-award-winning gospel and soul singer. Joined the board in 2024 as a Composer Member. Chairs the CAPASSO Remuneration Committee.
• Meladi Mampane - Independent Chairperson of CAPASSO Board. First woman to serve as Chairperson since CAPASSO's inception. Human resources and governance professional.
• Jotam Matariro - CAPASSO CEO. Leads the organization's strategic direction and operations.

CAPASSO vs Other Organizations

Videos

Compare CAPASSO with Other PROs

• SAMRO - South African Music Rights Organisation (performance rights)
• COMPASS - Composers and Authors Society of Singapore
• COSCAP - Copyright Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (Caribbean)
• JACAP - Jamaican Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers
• COSON - Dominican Republic composers' society
• CISAC - International umbrella organization for authors' societies

Related Resources

• Mechanical Royalties - How mechanical royalties are generated and collected
• Mechanical License - What a mechanical license covers
• Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) - How PROs like SAMRO differ from mechanical rights agencies
• Copyright - The legal foundation for mechanical rights
• Collective Management Organization (CMO) - How collective rights management works globally
• Music Publishing Explained - Complete guide to publishing and mechanical royalties
• CAPASSO Official Website - Visit CAPASSO for membership and licensing details
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital streaming earnings