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Africa’s music industry is alive with talent and rich cultural expression, but there’s a silent thief robbing artists of their hard-earned
income: copyright infringement. If you’re an artist, producer, or music distributor, it’s time to face the issue head-on and
understand how it’s affecting your career.
There are different ways piracy eating into your earnings. They include
1. Digital Piracy
Your music is likely being shared illegally through shady websites, peer-to-peer platforms, or even social media.
Streaming piracy, where your songs are uploaded to platforms without permission, also deprives you of rightful royalties.
Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram are another hotbed for unauthorized music distribution.
2. Unauthorized Public Performances
Are your songs being played at events, on the radio, or by DJs without your consent?
These unlicensed performances cheat you out of the royalties you deserve.
3. Counterfeit CDs and Tapes
Though digital piracy has taken center stage, counterfeit CDs and tapes are still sold in informal markets.
These physical copies may seem outdated, but they’re siphoning off revenue that belongs to you.
4. Corrupt CMOs
This is one of reasons why your royalties seem lower than they should be.
Unethical practices by Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) mean your earnings aren’t being distributed
transparently or fairly.
It’s bad enough that these forms of infringement exist, but what makes it even worse is that copyright protection isn’t
coming to the rescue.
This is due to a number of factors which include;
Weak Laws, Weaker Enforcement
Many African countries haven’t updated their copyright laws to tackle digital piracy effectively. Even when violations are reported,
enforcement is often sluggish and ineffective.
Low Awareness
Too many artists don’t fully understand their copyright rights, leaving them vulnerable. On the flip side, consumers often don’t
see anything wrong with downloading music illegally.
Outdated Technology
Tools like Digital Rights Management (DRM) that prevent piracy are underused, and there’s little investment in tracking
unauthorized use of music online.
Corruption and Market Fragmentation
Corruption within CMOs and government agencies undermines the system. Add to that Africa’s fragmented music market—spanning
numerous languages and cultures—and you’ve got a recipe for chaos.
What Can You Do?
The first step is awareness. Know your rights, and demand transparency from CMOs.
This is going to be a long walk though, but we know a shorter route that puts you in more control: technology.
There are technological tools and platforms out there that can help you monitor and monetize your music properly.
We’ll talk about them on the next article coming out on Wednesday.
Until then, keep the grind on,..