Tanzanian creators to earn royalties amid growth
DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIAN musicians, authors and creators are set to benefit from a continentwide surge in royalties, as Africa posted highest-ever growth, according to the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) Global Collections Report 2025.
Africa’s total royalty collections reached 97 million US dollars in 2024, a 14.2 per cent increase from the previous year, driven primarily by broadcast royalties and live performances, sectors where Tanzania’s music and events industry is increasingly active.
Globally, CISAC reported record collections of 13.97 billion euros, up 6.6 per cent, with music accounting for 12.59 billion euros, or 90 per cent of total revenue.
The report noted that digital revenues are rising rapidly worldwide, but remain comparatively low in Africa, highlighting the potential for Tanzanian creators to capture a larger share of streaming and online income provided copyright enforcement and licensing frameworks are strengthened.
Digital income surged as streaming and subscription revenues exceeded 5 billion euros, up 11.2 per cent year-on-year, underscoring the growing importance of platforms like Boomplay, Spotify and YouTube for African creators.
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Tanzania, like much of East Africa, is still underrepresented in digital revenues due to limited licensing infrastructure and fragmented collective management systems.
However, the country boasts a more robust and higher-earning live performance market compared with its East African neighbours, offering local artists a steady revenue base. The continent’s growth signals untapped potential for creators to monetise streaming and online consumption.
The report also highlighted a looming risk: unlicensed generative AI could divert up to 25 per cent of royalties, equivalent to 8.5 billion euros globally, as algorithms replicate creative works without compensation.
The CISAC called for transparency, licensing obligations for AI platforms, and proper remuneration of creators, warning that emerging markets are particularly vulnerable
