ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
All license renewals will be issued by the composer or party nominated by the composer.
We would appreciate your ensuring that all your members are advised of the above changes.
We remind you that where productions require the inclusion of extracts from existing works such as popular songs or mood music libraries, etc. no arrangements or lyrics may be added to such works without the specific permission of the owner of the music.
In this respect the agency/client remains responsible in all respects for the clearance of the copyright in the original musical work and will at all times indemnify the CCA members against claims for infringement of copyright.
LICENSING ON MULTIPLE ASSETS
It is to be remembered that in terms of the Copyright Act the above licensing terms are in respect of the recording of the musical work, that is each recording of the musical work requires a license.
Thus, each original recording, re-recording, cut-down version,
alternate version etc. requires a separate license.
PITCH FEES
Composers pitching original music in response to a client brief are entitled to a pitch fee of R21,250 — equivalent to the 12-month South African Television license rate. One pitch fee applies per brief, regardless of how many tracks the composer chooses to submit.
The pitch fee is payable in addition to the final license fee if the work is selected, though this may be negotiated with the client on a case-by-case basis.
EXCLUSIVITY
All CCA rates are quoted for exclusive licenses within the licensed medium, territory, and category of use for the duration of the license period. The composition will not be licensed to a competing brand or product in the same category during the license term.
IN PERPETUITY BLANKET USAGE
500% to 700% per medium,
calculated on the current annual TELEVISION license fee
for each individual medium and territory.
COMBINING BLANKET USAGES EXAMPLE
Blanket Usage on all mediums,
with unlimited asset/edit syncing, across all African countries for the period of 12 months.
R21 250 (Annual Television Base Rate)
x 300% (All Mediums)
x 300% (Unlimited edits)
x 400% (All Africa) = R765 000.
SESSION MUSICIANS
The session fee rate for musicians and backing singers is R3 050 per 2 hour session.
Please refer to the PMA rates for lead vocalist session rates and usages.
COMPLETE WORLDWIDE BUYOUT EXAMPLE
Blanket Usage on all mediums, with unlimited asset/edit syncing, across all countries worldwide in perpetuity.
R21 250 (Annual Television Base Rate)
x 300% (All Mediums)
x 300% (Unlimited edits)
x 500% (Worldwide)
x 500% (In perpetuity) = R4 781 250.
BLANKET
LICENSING
Blanket licensing applies when a production is licensed across multiple media platforms,
territories, or similar scenarios.
This approach simplifies the costing process and offers
discounts to clients where applicable.
Below are the CCA's guidelines for blanket licensing:
BLANKET
USAGE ACROSS ALL
MEDIUMS
300% - 500% of the current annual TELEVISION license fee, for a 12 month period for
each individual territory.
BLANKET
USAGE SYNCING ON UNLIMITED ASSETS
300% - 500% of the current annual TELEVISION license fee, for each individual
medium and territory for a 12 month period.
BLANKET
USAGE AGROSS
MULTIPLE TERRITORIES
Please refer to the Schedule of Minimum Extension Rates for the use of jingles in territories outside South Africa. Some common Territory Blanket Usages include:
All Africa - 400%, Pan-Africa - 300%, All Europe - 700%,
All North America - 600%,
All South America - 400%,
All Middle East - 350%,
All Asia - 500%,
Worldwide - 2000%.
Blanket Licensing, Territory Licenses and World Wide Buyouts
Licensing continued
RENEWALS
Any renewals for the second and subsequent year's usage will be at 100% per annum
of the royalty paid for the first year.
ARRANGEMENT OF EXISTING WORKS
Arrangements of existing works will be subject to a minimum royalty of 65% of the
amounts stated above for a 12 month license
CUT-DOWNS
Any cut-downs airing alongside the original full-length production will be subject to a
minimum royalty of 65% of the full royalty charged for the initial production.
TELEVISION
Productions created for television media will be subject to a minimum royalty of R21 250
for a 12 month license.
This comprehensive license covers broadcast television, pay
television, satellite television, and all other television platforms under a single license
fee.
DIGITAL & ONLINE
Productions created for digital & online platforms will be subject to a minimum royalty of
R21 250 for a 12 month license.
This is a comprehensive license that covers all social
media & online streaming platforms under a single license fee.
OTHER MEDIUMS
Productions created for any other media (radio, cinema, public broadcast etc.)
Will be subject to a minimum royalty of R13 090 for a
12 month license.
MULTIPLE MEDIUMS
If a production airs on multiple mediums simultaneously,
the primary medium
(television, online, or other) will be charged at 100% of the stated royalty.
While any additional mediums will be charged at 50% of their respective rates
FAQ's
1. How do pitch fees work?
Agencies pay a pitch fee for one piece of music submitted in response to a brief. Composers may choose to submit more than one track, but generally only one pitch fee is paid per brief. The pitch fee is payable in addition to the final license fee if the work is selected, though this may be negotiated with the client.
2. How are revert requests handled?
If the agency re-briefs the composer with significantly different creative direction, this constitutes a new pitch and another pitch fee applies. For minor tweaks to the original track, it is at the composer's discretion whether they accommodate the additional work within the existing budget.
3. How is blanket usage costed?
Blanket usage multipliers are set out in the rate card and range from 300% to 500% of the base rate, depending on scope. Larger and more comprehensive jobs generally attract lower percentage multipliers. Worked examples are provided in the rate card to illustrate how multipliers combine across mediums, edits, and territories.
4. How are voice and session musician usages charged?
CCA rates do not dictate vocalist or voice-over usage fees. Please refer to the PMA (Performers' Management Agency) and OSM Talent rates for vocal and voice-over usages.
5. How are usages in territories outside South Africa calculated?
CCA rates are based on South African usage. For international usage, the South African base fee is multiplied by the relevant country or territory percentage set out in the rate card. Regional packages (e.g. All Africa, All Europe) are also available and may offer better value for multi-country campaigns.
6. How are cut-downs and alternate versions licensed?
Cut-downs airing alongside the original full-length production are charged at a percentage of the full royalty, as set out in the rate card. Each alternate version, re-record, or edit constitutes a separate recording and requires its own license under the Copyright Act.
7. How are arrangements of existing works priced?
Arrangements of existing works are charged at a percentage of the standard royalty, as set out in the rate card. The base rate for all calculations is a 12-month South African Television license.
8. How do renewals work?
Renewals for the second and subsequent years are charged at 100% per annum of the royalty paid for the first year. All renewals are issued by the composer or a party nominated by the composer.
9. How are productions airing on multiple mediums charged?
Television and online are considered primary mediums. Where a production airs on both, one is charged at 100% and the additional medium at 50%. If neither TV nor online is used, one of the other mediums (radio, cinema, public broadcast) becomes the primary at its stated rate, and any additional mediums are charged at 50% of that primary rate.
10. Who is responsible for clearing third-party music (e.g. popular songs or library tracks)?
Clearance of third-party music is typically handled by the agency or a music supervisor, and the agency/client remains responsible for copyright clearance of the original work. Composers must confirm that clearance has been obtained before re-arranging any existing song. Arrangement usages are licensable under CCA rates at a reduced percentage — see question 7.
11. Can AI-generated or AI-assisted music be licensed under CCA rates?
CCA rates cover the exclusive licensing of original music that holds a copyright. Because fully AI-generated music cannot be copyrighted (see question 13), CCA rates do not apply to it. Where AI is used as a tool within a predominantly human-created composition, the work may be copyrighted and licensed under standard CCA rates — provided the composer can demonstrate authorship through sheet music, stems, session files, or other working material. Composers should also be aware that most AI music platforms pass liability to the end user, meaning the composer is responsible for any copyright infringement the AI output may contain.
12. Are CCA rates for exclusive or non-exclusive licenses?
CCA rates are for exclusive licenses only. This is a defining feature of CCA licensing and distinguishes it from standard library or stock music rates.
13. Can AI-generated music be copyrighted?
Under current South African law — and in most international jurisdictions — fully AI-generated music cannot be copyrighted, because copyright requires human authorship. AI may be used as a tool within the creative process, but the resulting work is only copyrightable where a human composer is the clear author and can prove originality through documentation such as sheet music, stems, and session files. The CCA will update this guidance as the law evolves.