New research by the Music Economy Development Initiative (MEDI) estimates that Nigeria and Kenya could collectively generate nearly $300 million annually from their music industries if copyright protection and royalty collection systems were strengthened. The findings highlight the significant economic opportunity within African music – and the urgent need for stronger rights infrastructure.
Africa’s music industry continues to expand its international influence, with artists, producers and songwriters reaching audiences across borders. Yet, despite this growing global demand, a significant proportion of the industry’s economic potential remains untapped.
Research presented at the CANEX Intellectual Property Rights Summit in Lagos, Nigeria, on 5 November 2026, has placed this opportunity into perspective. According to findings by the Music Economy Development Initiative (MEDI), Nigeria could generate approximately $230 million annually from its music industry, while Kenya could generate an estimated $55 million if their music rights systems operated effectively.
Together, these projections represent nearly $300 million in potential annual revenue across the two markets.
The findings reinforce an important industry conversation: Africa’s next phase of music industry growth must be supported by stronger copyright systems, effective royalty collection and improved infrastructure for managing intellectual property.
The Gap Between Global Reach and Revenue
African music has become an increasingly influential force in the global music landscape. However, its international popularity has not translated into a proportionate share of global recorded music revenue.
Figures presented by MEDI illustrate this disparity. Nigerian artists generated approximately 30 billion Spotify streams in 2025, earning close to $44 million. South African artists generated more than $30 million in Spotify revenue, with 74% coming from listeners outside the country.
In Egypt, more than 80% of recorded music revenue came from international markets.
Despite these developments, Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for approximately 0.4% of the global recorded music market in 2025, valued at around $120 million, despite representing approximately 18% of the world’s population.
This contrast points to a fundamental challenge facing the industry: audience growth and international recognition must be matched by systems that ensure creators and rights holders can participate meaningfully in the revenue generated by their work.
Rights Management and Royalty Collection Remain Critical Challenges
A central finding of the MEDI research is the significant gap in Africa’s copyright and royalty collection infrastructure.
While approximately 80% of African countries have collective management organisations (CMOs) representing songwriters, and around 60% have organisations representing performers or producers, the presence of these organisations does not necessarily translate into effective royalty collection and distribution.
International representation also remains limited. Only 19 African countries have songwriter CMOs affiliated with the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), while just three countries have performers’ organisations affiliated with the Societies’ Council for the Collective Management of Performers’ Rights (SCAPR).
These gaps create challenges when African music is used internationally, making it more difficult to identify rights holders, track usage and collect royalties across territories.
For songwriters, composers, performers and producers, this can mean missing out on income generated through the commercial use of their music.
Strengthening rights administration, improving industry data and expanding international collection networks will therefore be essential to unlocking the sector’s full economic potential.
Copyright Protection Must Keep Pace With a Changing Industry
The research also highlights the need to modernise copyright legislation across the continent.
Almost 70% of African countries have not updated their copyright laws since before 2017, despite the significant changes in the global music business brought about by digital streaming.
As music consumption increasingly takes place through digital platforms, the industry requires legal frameworks that address evolving forms of music exploitation and adequately protect the interests of creators and rights holders.
The findings also point to gaps in international treaty participation, particularly in relation to the protection of performers and producers when their recordings are used beyond their home markets.
Piracy and unlicensed music consumption present additional challenges. MEDI’s research found that approximately 66% of internet users in Nigeria reported accessing music through unlicensed or illegal methods, while music piracy websites in Kenya recorded more than 59 million visits within a year.
Addressing these issues will require coordinated efforts between governments, industry organisations, telecommunications providers, broadcasters and rights management professionals.
Turning Music Rights Into Sustainable Economic Value
The opportunity presented by the MEDI research extends beyond the projected revenue figures. It highlights the importance of treating music rights as valuable economic assets that require proper management, protection and commercialisation.
For creators and rights holders, understanding the different rights attached to their music is an important step towards building sustainable careers.
Music publishing administration, neighbouring rights management, synchronisation licensing and royalty accounting all contribute to ensuring that music is properly identified, licensed and monetised across different platforms and territories.
Accurate metadata and clear ownership documentation are equally important. Without reliable information about a musical work and its contributors, identifying rights holders and allocating royalties correctly becomes increasingly difficult.
As African music continues to reach new international markets, investing in these systems will be critical to ensuring that revenue generated from music usage is accurately tracked and reaches the people entitled to receive it.
Building a Stronger African Music Economy
MEDI aims to increase the value of Africa’s music copyright sector fivefold over the next decade, targeting $1.25 billion. Achieving this ambition will require sustained investment in copyright infrastructure, stronger collective management systems, improved legislation and greater collaboration across African music markets.
The findings also reinforce the importance of recognising music as an economic sector that requires coordinated support across government policy, intellectual property regulation, telecommunications and trade.
For the private sector, there is an opportunity to strengthen the partnerships, services and infrastructure that support creators throughout the music value chain.
At Downtown Music Publishing Africa, a Virgin Music Group company, we recognise that protecting intellectual property and ensuring effective rights management are fundamental to the long-term growth of the African music industry.
As a full-service music rights management company, DMPA provides publishing administration, sync licensing, neighbouring rights, royalty accounting, legal services and creative support for African music creators.
The potential $300 million opportunity identified in Nigeria and Kenya demonstrates what can be achieved when music rights systems work effectively. More importantly, it offers a reminder that the future of African music will depend not only on how widely its music is heard, but also on how effectively the value of that music is protected, collected and distributed.
African music has global reach. Strengthening the systems behind its rights is how that reach can translate into lasting economic value for creators.
