Govt collects over 1.2bn/- in royalties for artists

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Copyright Society of Tanzania (COSOTA), in collaboration with the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), has successfully collected 1.2bn/- in royalties from September 2023 to November 2024.

This significant sum will be distributed among local artists, providing them with essential financial support.

The Deputy Minister for Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Hamis Mwinjuma, noted this in Dar es Salaam on Monday where he shared the distribution breakdown of the total funds collected.

He noted a substantial 70 per cent (840m/-) will go directly to artists, while 20 per cent (240m/-) will be retained by COSOTA for operational costs.

Additionally, 10 per cent (120m/-) will be allocated to the government’s general fund.

After accounting for other government deductions, the actual amount available for distribution will be 836.8m/-. Of this, 119.5m/- will contribute to the Cultural and Arts Fund, while 717.3m/- will be shared among the artists.

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Mwinjuma expressed his gratitude for the recent reforms in the copyright sector, crediting President Samia Suluhu Hassan for endorsing the revised Copyright Act and the introduction of a new copyright levy, which has notably increased royalty collections.

He stated, “This reform represents a major advancement in the copyright sector, and we owe special thanks to the President for her support.”

The Deputy Minister highlighted the positive impact of the new revenue collection system. For example, in July 2023, COSOTA distributed 396.9m/- to 8,018 beneficiaries.

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With the improved collection methods, more artists from various fields—ranging from music to film—are expected to receive larger payments.

Once the funds are finalized through the Ministry of Finance, Mwinjuma assured that royalties would be distributed promptly. This initiative marks a crucial step toward ensuring that Tanzanian artists receive fair compensation for their creative work while reinforcing the country’s commitment to protecting intellectual property rights.