In an ideal situation, the creativity of musicians is highly valued and paid for. This value is what is recognised in copyright laws and which earns musicians royalties.

In Africa however, and much of the developing world, piracy — which is copyright infringement — is rampant.
Where copyright laws are enforced, musicians live off royalties throughout their lives and their estate benefits from the same 50 years after their death.
In the developed world where strict copyright laws exists musicians do not rely on pay cheques from live performances but rather on royalties.

Not so in Uganda and much of Africa, where the opposite is the rule rather than the exception.

This has affected the development of the music industry and talent since all what the artistes are looking for is a quick buck.

Uganda musicians are believed to earn more from their music — live performances — compared with others from the region, but when it comes to royalties, they are hurt by piracy just as much as the rest of the region’s artistes.

It was with this in mind that recently the Uganda Performing Right Society called on the government to help it improve the music industry through the enforcement of copyright laws by licensing all users which will expose copyright infringers and help musicians earn more from royalties.

“If the government can work with us to enforce copyright and other relevant laws, music will be among the top 20 tax payers in the country,” said the Society’s secretary-general James Wasula.

“This means musicians’ or copyright owners’ income is likely to grow by more than 25 per cent if the government chooses to streamline the industry in the 2012/13 financial year,” Wasula added.

The Society says that the music industry in Uganda has a potential of generating Ush3 billion ($1.4 million) annually in taxes alone.

More pay

The Society chairman and band leader of Afrigo band, Moses Matovu, said the collection of royalties has been long over due. “We hope with the government’s help, we will earn more money than what we are earning right now.”

Matovu, who is also chairman of the Uganda Musicians Union, added, “A musician cannot depend on live performances only, which is what we have been forced to do every weekend. Royalties are the best form of income for musicians the world over.”

Although he welcomes the idea of collecting royalties, Michael Musoke a member of Percussion Discussion Africa band argued that the problem is the weak mechanisms to implement the copyright law especially in regards to fighting piracy.

“However, if everything is in order we can earn much from our creativity,” he said.

The Society began collecting royalties last year and currently has a membership of 1,000 copyright owners.

About 300 copyright owners shared the Ush16 million ($7,804) collected last year, and this figure could grow considering that out of over 200 broadcasters, only 11 radio stations complied with the copyright law and paid.
The Society’s target is to collect Ush100 million ($48,780) this year.

“If the government supports us, we can collect over Ush3 billion ($1.4 million) annually," Matovu adds.