Over 300,000 artists on Mdundo earn $1m in royalties

DAR ES SALAAM: Mdundo, Africa’s leading music distribution platform, continues to redefine the music landscape by empowering artists to distribute, promote, and monetize their music. With a growing user base of over 38.7 million Monthly Active Users and operations spanning multiple African countries, Mdundo remains at the forefront of Africa’s digital music revolution.

In January 2025, Mdundo commenced its bi-annual royalty payout season, which is currently ongoing, benefiting over 100,000 rights holders across the continent, including thousands of Tanzanian artists. Since its inception, the platform has paid royalties to more than 200,000 artists, with the number of beneficiaries steadily increasing with each payout cycle.

This milestone underscores Mdundo’s unwavering commitment to fostering a sustainable music ecosystem for African and, particularly, Tanzanian musicians.

Martin Nielsen, CEO of Mdundo, expressed pride in the platform’s achievements:

“Our mission has always been to offer African artists a sustainable platform to thrive. By delivering consistent and substantial earnings, we are contributing to the growth of individual artists while supporting the long-term development of the African music industry as a whole.”

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A significant driver of this success in Tanzania has been Mdundo’s strong collaboration with Vodacom Tanzania PLC, the country’s leading telecom operator. Through subscription-based partnerships and innovative product integrations, Mdundo has unlocked seamless access to music for millions of Tanzanians.

This has expanded audiences for artists, driven higher revenues, and directly contributed to royalty payouts for thousands of rights holders in Tanzania.

Sowari Akosionu, Chief Marketing Officer at Mdundo, highlighted the crucial role of Vodacom Tanzania PLC: “Our partnership with Vodacom Tanzania PLC has been instrumental in enabling royalty payouts in the country. By opening up wider access to music through their extensive network, Vodacom is directly supporting local artists’ earnings and strengthening the Tanzanian music ecosystem.”

Complementing these efforts, Mdundo’s catalog features both international content and hyperlocal Tanzanian music from Bongo Flava to Singeli. This localized approach strengthens connections with Tanzanian listeners, boosts visibility for regional artists, and creates new income streams for rights-holders.

Looking ahead, Mdundo aims to disburse royalties totaling between USD 2.1 million and USD 2.3 million by 2026, with a strong focus on uplifting hyperlocal artists and showcasing Tanzanian talent on the global stage.

Through user-friendly technology, extensive networks, and strong partnerships like that with Vodacom Tanzania PLC, Mdundo continues to provide Tanzanian musicians with opportunities to grow their music, expand their reach, and increase their earnings.