South Africa, May 28 -- This is especially true in South Africa, where the legal framework and revenue collection systems can be difficult to navigate, leaving many creatives unsure of how much money they are owed, and where to claim it from.

Royalty streams connected to the composition, in other words, the written piece of music that exists before it is recorded, are some of the most misunderstood income sources. Yet, they are fundamental to every hit you have ever heard.

The power of copyright

The moment a piece of music is created and written down or reduced to material form, a copyright comes into existence. Think of this as property, like owning a block of flats. As the creator, you have the right to rent it out, license it, live ...