SAMRO celebrates legacy with Builders' Awards

In celebrating its 50th anniversary, the South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) recently held the Builders' Awards ceremony to honour the people and organisations that have played an integral role in building it into Africa's largest copyright administration and royalty collection organisation.

Renowned composer and performer Coenie de Villiers, who is also a SAMRO board member, performed three of his own piano compositions, including the very first song he registered with SAMRO in 1973.

Speaking at the event, SAMRO CEO, Nicholas Motsatse said: "A day like this brings with it a deep sense of connectivity of how our lives and destinies can be intertwined and connected. It brings into perspective how the decisions and actions taken at any one time can have an effect on generations to come."

Motsatse said that the awards were being held to express gratitude and recognise the role that each recipient had played in ensuring that a number of local composers, lyricists, authors and publishers are today able to have decent jobs and careers.