AIRCO, The Association of Independent Record Companies is a non profit national industry association, proactively serving and representing the interests and development of South African independent companies across South Africa and the world.

AIRCO members are record companies and labels across the full spectrum of music genres, ranging from small sole traders to some of the biggest independent operators in the country. 

OUR VISION

To grow the Independents’ market share, improve visibility of independent music and artists, and promote key issues such as market access and cultural diversity in all national, regional and international policies.

OUR OBJECTIVES

AIRCO’s primary objective is to foster an ever increasing marketplace for South African independent music and assist in the long-term development, growth and success of South Africa ’s independent recording industry.

Our specific objectives include:

COPYRIGHT To assist in the exploitation of copyrights created and owned by South African independent record companies;

FAIR TRADE
To achieve commercial terms on par with the major record companies. The association will seek to level the playing field;

ACCESS TO MEDIA
Independent music is underrepresented on mainstream radio and television. AIRCO will become a constant reminder to media broadcasters and elected officials that the ownership of the airwaves stems from the public trust and that cultural diversity is in the public interest;

NEW TECHNOLOGY
AIRCO will relentlessly pursue a seat at the table for the launch of new technologies and distribution channels;

LEGISLATIVE
AIRCO will represent its member’s interests in government and legislative issues. AIRCO will be visible where our position diverges from that of the majors, and for which the Independents currently have no voice;

INTERNATIONAL
AIRCO will join the growing international movement that recognizes the economic and functional importance of independent record companies, and of the record industry overall.

PURCHASING
AIRCO will explore areas where collective purchasing commitments may result in favorable pricing. Some examples include:

-Advertising

-Manufacturing

-Printing

-Media Monitoring

-Legal and Accounting

MARKET ACCESS
To promote a commercially viable industry environment which is conducive to growth of the South African independent sector and to the development of the artists that it represents;

CULTURAL IDENTITY
To encourage and facilitate cultural expression through South African music at local, national and international levels;

BRANDING
We are proud to be independent! Altogether we represent nearly 30% of South African music sales and 60% of South African music releases while dominating certain niche markets. AIRCO will seek to raise perception of ‘The Indies’ to something that achieves parity with that of ‘The Majors’, as an economic force, and surpasses it as a cultural force.

AIRCO is committed to do all things as are necessary, supplementary and favorable to the attainment of the above objectives and to the development of the South African music industry at large. Fittingly, AIRCO will stand for fair standards and oppose practices which rely on coercive methodologies to obtain favorable results. This will serve as a point of distinction and differentiation for AIRCO members.

visit them at www.myspace.com/aircosa or airco.org.za