Artists set to reap 2bn/- in royalties in November

DAR ES SALAAM: ARTISTS are set for a major royalty payday in November, with the government preparing to distribute about 2bn/- collected through the country’s copyright levy system.

Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Paul Makonda said preparations were already under way for the distribution, which is expected to be marked by a major event bringing together artists and other players in the creative industry.

“I have already directed the ministry to make preparations so that in November these funds will be distributed to the beneficiaries,” Makonda said.

The minister said the money is collected under the country’s copyright framework through the Copyright Society of Tanzania (COSOTA) and is meant to return a share of the income generated by creative works to the artists and other rights holders behind them.

“Artists, get ready. Your money will be available in November,” he said.

While the November payout is the immediate focus, Makonda said the government is also looking at how to make the copyright system deliver greater returns to artists in the future.

He pointed to rapid changes in technology and the way people consume music, noting that the industry has moved far beyond the days when CDs were the dominant format.

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“Technology has changed. In the past, people relied on CDs, but today they have moved to flash drives and other forms,” he said.

According to the minister, such changes have created gaps in the existing system, with some potential sources of revenue not being adequately captured.

The ministry has therefore proposed amendments to sections of the law to reflect the changing creative and technological landscape.

The bigger goal, he said, is to build a system that allows artists to earn more consistently from their intellectual property.

If the proposed reforms and other measures are successfully implemented, Makonda said the royalty pool could eventually grow to 10bn/-, 20bn/- or even 30bn/-.

That would mean a stronger stream of income for artists and greater protection for the creative works that generate it.