Appendix 6 - International Music Council

• The organisations comprising the MITT, notably SAMRO, MUSA and ASAMI,
are willing to assist the IBA in researching the appropriate monitoring system for
South Africa. In the interim, the MITT suggests that the IBA consider adopting
the monitoring system outlined by ASAMI.
Level of quota for local music content
Recommendation 9:
The MITT is of the view that the present local content quota of 20% is too low and
recommends a quota of at least 50%.
STATUS OF MUSICIANS
Musicians and related workers are disadvantaged by the lack of clarity regarding their
status in labour legislation. At present, they fall outside of the legal ambit of a range of
rights, protections and benefits.
Recommendation 10:
Legal advice should be commissioned to find the most advantageous definition for the
status of the musician in this industry 24 .
Work permits: reciprocity
Internationally cultural goods and services are considered exceptions in the trade
environment given their dual character of commodity on the one hand, and embodiment
of culture, identity and values on the other.
Common international practice with regard to the issuing of work permits in the cultural
industries therefore tends towards a system of reciprocity. The MITT notes that the
dominant sentiment in the South African industry concurs with this trend.
The MITT appreciates, however, that the government’s trade and industrial policy is antiprotectionist,
and that the Minister operates within this policy environment.
Recommendation 11:
24 Sony volunteers to pay the expenses of this research.
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