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GALLO MUSIC GROUP VS STING MUSIC – UMOJA

By Michaele Ceresato on 18 May 2012

GALLO MUSIC GROUP VS STING MUSIC – UMOJA Gallo Music Group (Gallo) has over the decades committed itself to finding talent and exposing such talent to music lovers worldwide. Gallo takes its role as publisher and protector of these musical treasures, very seriously. The case which is presently before the High Court against Sting Music is but one example of Gallo protecting the rights of some of South Africa's music icons, such as Joseph Shabalala of multiple Grammy Award winning, Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Tracy Fraser, Head Of Music, states whilst it would be inappropriate to discuss in the media the details of this case, as it is presently sub judice, Gallo Music Publishers is merely defending the rights of the composers whose works are being staged by Sting Music, who not only refuse to acknowledge the validity of the copyright in these works, but also refuse to pay royalties to the composers. Gallo took Helmut Lotti to task in a Belgian Court for unlawfully reproducing the hits ‘Qongqothwane’, famously known as ‘The Click Song’ made popular by Miriam Makeba, ‘Jikel Emaweni’ and ‘Thula Baba’. The Belgian Court ruled in favour of Gallo. The panel of experts upon whom the court relied, included Professor Tracey, one of Gallo's experts in the present case against Sting Music. The Belgian Court found that ‘Thula Baba’ is an entirely fresh and original work, written in or about 1963, by Bertha Egnos, Eddie Domingo and Basil Gray. There was no "traditional" version of this work and no evidence of the existence of such a traditional work has been produced thus far by anyone. Bertha Egnos was also the creator of South Africa's greatest stage musical of all time, "Ipi Thombi". ‘Thula Baba’ is yet another enduring South African song and was created for the show, ‘Dingaka’, which was also made into a film by Jamie Uys. Gallo also instigated the case in which the estate of the late Solomon Linda was successful, against a copyright infringement of the song ‘Mbube’ for its adaptation, ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’. Gallo's songs are not just songs. They are some of the very best songs ever created in the history of South Africa and a number of them feature on Samro's ‘Top 10 South African Songs of All Time’ List. In most cases, the composers themselves or their heirs, are largely dependant on the royalty income for their welfare." -ENDS Issued by Gallo Music Group Contact: Esther Ndosi EstherN@gallo.co.za

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