Tanzania artistes to benefit from music airplay at airports

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s airports will now pay royalties for music played on their premises following a landmark agreement between the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) and the Copyright Society of Tanzania (Cosota).

The agreement, signed earlier on Monday, requires 80 percent of the music played at airports to feature Tanzanian artistes, with 20 percent allocated to international music.

This move aims to promote local talent and ensure artistes receive fair compensation for their works.

According to TAA Director-General Abdul Mombokaleo, the initiative is a significant step in recognising and supporting local artistes.

“Every nation has strategic plans to reinvest in and value its artistes' contributions. This initiative is our way of acknowledging the immense talent and hard work of Tanzanian musicians,” Mr Mombokaleo said.

He further emphasised that the move does not exclude international music but prioritises local content to foster a broader societal impact.

On the other hand, Cosota’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms Doreen Sinare, called the agreement a long-awaited milestone for artistes and the organization.

“We’ve started with airports, but this is just the beginning. Our goal is to extend this framework to other areas where music is used commercially. This ensures that the music played generates income for its creators,” she said.

The Deputy Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Mr Hamis Mwinjuma, hailed the agreement as a win for artistes.

“This licensing agreement between TAA and Cosota will ensure that musicians earn fair compensation for their works when used in public spaces like airports,” said Mr Mwinjuma. He noted that the initiative would boost the visibility and marketability of local music while creating new revenue streams.

“This partnership underscores the importance of collaboration between the ministry of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports and that of Transport. It also serves to guarantee that artistes’ rights are respected and rewarded,” he added.

From September 2023 to November 2024, Cosota, in collaboration with the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), collected Sh1 billion in copyright levy, according to Mr Mwinjuma. Of this, 70 percent will be distributed to artistes, including musicians, filmmakers, performers, visual artists, and writers.

“A total of Sh836 million will benefit these groups, with Sh119 million being allocated to the Cultural Fund and Sh717 million being distributed among the artistes,” said Mr Mwinjuma.

On the other hand, the Deputy Minister for Transport, Mr David Kihenzile, praised the collaboration, urging artistes to focus on producing high-quality works to maximise these opportunities..

“It is now up to our artists to consistently produce high-quality work that meets market demand,” Mr Kihenzile said.

This initiative demonstrates COSOTA and TAA’s commitment to uplifting local artistes’ incomes and fostering the growth of the creative and entertainment sectors.

By prioritizing Tanzanian music, TAA aims to enhance artists' earnings and expand their reach to audiences both locally and internationally.