LyricFind and CAPASSO Launch the World's First Lyric Licensing Agreement Across Sub-Saharan Africa

16 December 2018 - Press release

In our new borderless Global music streaming market, Africa is seen by many industry analysts as the next region to drive user growth.

LyricFind, the world's largest lyric licensing company, is excited to further extend their lead with published content, by announcing a blanket deal for the great majority of African markets with CAPASSO, the South African mechanical rights organization. CAPASSO (Composers, Authors and Publishers Association) covers African repertoire from 38 countries, through affiliated African societies.

CAPASSO is a mechanical rights licensing agency based in Johannesburg - South Africa, which collects and distributes royalties to its members: music publishers and composers. The deal will mean South Africa and 37 other African countries' songs will now be fully licensed and monetized by LyricFind across Africa. It also allows all international repertoire to be exhibited and monetized in these countries, legally and with the highest quality standards for the lyrics, the rights and the royalty reporting.

"This was truly a group effort," says Robert Singerman, VP, International Music Publishing at LyricFind. "This agreement evolved thanks to many meetings at MIDEM as CAPASSO developed as the South African Mechanical Rights Society. It would not have happened without the generous assistance of CAPASSO and SAMRO Board member David Alexander of Sheer Music, Africa's biggest independent music publisher, the CAPASSO team, especially Warrick Percy and strong relationships with Renneth Tshisikule of IMEXSA, the South African music export office."

David Alexander said "I am pleased that this deal has finally been closed because global income for lyrics is on the rise and it is now an important part of the Songwriter and Publisher's revenue streams."

"This agreement is the first of its kind for CAPASSO" says Warrick Percy, Head of Licensing and Business Development at CAPASSO. "Reprographic rights account for roughly 8% of music publishing royalties worldwide. Thus far, CAPASSO have not been in a position to monetize and collect these royalties on behalf of African composers despite extensive usage taking place. This agreement will now ensure that African composers are properly represented and accounted for thanks to the wonderful work being done by Lyricfind."

The agreement also notably covers legal lyric translations of global music into African and other languages (and vice versa). Legal translations will further help break down language barriers and increase music's usage, engagement and revenue.

List of 38 Countries
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina-Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, DRC, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome e Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe