Fedhasa is seeking court clarity regarding the licensing fees charged by Samro for in-room usage.

The Federation of Hospitality Associations of South Africa (Fedhasa) is seeking a judicial ruling on the legality of a new in-room television licensing fee imposed by the South African Music Rights Organisation NPC (Samro).

According to Fedhasa, Samro, a non-profit organization that manages music rights on behalf of composers and other creators, introduced an additional licensing fee for music played on televisions in guest rooms during the 2022/23 period.

Listen: Samro reports a rise in licensing and royalty income coupled with a decrease in costs.

This new fee is assessed on a per-room, per-television basis, in addition to the existing fees for music licenses in common areas.

Fedhasa has engaged with Samro to seek a resolution on behalf of its members and the wider hospitality industry.

Nonetheless, despite these discussions, the parties could not reach a satisfactory agreement.

As a result, Fedhasa has chosen to bring the matter before the high court to achieve legal clarity regarding the legitimacy and extent of these additional licensing fees, as well as to establish the rights and responsibilities of accommodation providers and Samro within the applicable legal and contractual framework.

For over thirty years, the hospitality sector has adhered to Samro’s licensing regulations, paying annual fees for music usage in common areas like restaurants, bars, lobbies, conference rooms, and outdoor entertainment venues, Fedhasa highlights.

The organization hopes the court’s ruling will provide much-needed clarity for both the hospitality industry and Samro.

Read: A musician and his royalties

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