Keypoints:
- Africa’s music revenues rising but monetisation gap persists
- Weak licensing and copyright systems limit earnings
- AI and digital growth reshape rights and revenue models
AFRICA’S fast-growing music industry is entering a decisive phase, as revenues rise but monetisation gaps persist and policymakers push for stronger licensing and copyright enforcement.
According to discussions at the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) Africa Performance Rights Conference 2026 in Lagos, a widening gap remains between Africa’s cultural dominance and its financial returns, driven by weak licensing systems, piracy, and fragmented regulation.
Growth masks structural weakness
The problem is not demand—it is monetisation.
Africa’s music sector continues to post impressive headline growth. Data presented at the Lagos conference showed Sub-Saharan Africa’s recorded music revenues rose by 15.2 percent in 2025 to $120m, with digital income climbing more than 20 percent.
This momentum is driven by streaming expansion, mobile penetration, and the global rise of African genres. As Africa Briefing has reported, Africa royalties hit decades-high record. highlighting both the market’s upward trajectory and the persistent struggle to deepen monetisation systems.
Africa’s €90m in royalties in 2024 remains marginal against more than €13bn collected globally, highlighting a stark imbalance between cultural influence and financial return.
Licensing emerges as the missing link
At the centre of the debate is performance rights licensing—widely recognised as the weakest link in Africa’s music value chain.
Lauri Rechardt, IFPI’s chief legal officer, said collective management organisations (CMOs) remain critical to licensing broadcasters and public performance users, noting that ‘effective licensing systems are essential to ensure artists are paid for the use of their work’.
However, across much of Africa, licensing coverage remains inconsistent. Broadcasters, hospitality venues, and event organisers often operate without comprehensive licences, while enforcement mechanisms vary widely across jurisdictions.
In more mature markets, public performance and broadcasting rights generate significant income. In Africa, by contrast, these streams contribute only marginally to total revenues.
Expanding licensing frameworks—particularly in fast-growing urban entertainment and hospitality sectors—can unlock substantial new income. Africa Briefing has also highlighted in its coverage of Lagos Film City and the creative economy expansion how cultural industries are scaling rapidly, even as commercial and regulatory systems lag behind.
Copyright enforcement under pressure
Closely tied to licensing challenges is the issue of copyright enforcement.
Piracy continues to erode potential earnings, with illegal streaming platforms and unlicensed distribution networks operating across multiple markets. Enforcement agencies often face resource constraints, while cross-border coordination remains limited.
Angela Ndambuki, IFPI’s regional director for Sub-Saharan Africa, said ‘stronger collaboration between governments and industry is critical to tackling piracy and improving compliance’.
John O. Asein, Director General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, framed the issue in economic terms, noting that ‘copyright protection is not just about creators—it is about jobs, investment, and national growth’.
Despite these efforts, regulatory systems across many African countries have struggled to keep pace with digital consumption patterns, allowing revenue leakages to persist.
Artificial intelligence reshapes the landscape
A major shift at this year’s conference was the growing impact of artificial intelligence on music rights.
AI companies increasingly rely on music catalogues to train their models, raising complex questions about ownership, licensing, and compensation. Delegates agreed that licensing agreements between rights holders and AI developers are set to become standard practice.
This presents both opportunity and risk.
On one hand, AI can unlock new revenue streams for African artists and rights holders. On the other, the unauthorised use of copyrighted material threatens to undermine creator control if left unregulated.
That pressure is becoming more urgent as countries move to define rules for emerging technologies. Africa Briefing has reported that Nigeria is advancing sweeping AI regulations, signalling how quickly the policy environment is evolving.
The consensus in Lagos was clear: Africa must move decisively to shape AI-related copyright frameworks.
From cultural influence to economic value
The Lagos conference reinforced a central paradox: Africa’s music is globally dominant in cultural terms but structurally under-monetised.
Afrobeats, amapiano, and other genres continue to shape global trends, driving exports and expanding Africa’s creative footprint. However, the financial infrastructure required to capture this value remains underdeveloped.
Bridging this gap will require coordinated action across three core areas: stronger copyright frameworks, expanded licensing coverage, and investment in digital systems that enable transparent royalty collection and distribution.
Encouragingly, participating licensing bodies committed to practical reforms, including revising broadcast licensing agreements and expanding public performance frameworks in line with IFPI guidelines.
A critical inflection point
As Africa consolidates its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing music markets, the focus is shifting from growth to sustainability.
The industry’s future will depend less on streaming numbers and more on its ability to build systems that ensure fair and consistent compensation for creators.
Without reform, Africa risks remaining a net exporter of cultural value while capturing only a limited share of the economic returns. With the right interventions, however, the continent can unlock a far more robust and inclusive music economy.
The message from Lagos is unequivocal: Africa’s music success story is only half written—and licensing and copyright reform will define its next phase.
