The statistic showed that NASCAM had paid millions in royalties to foreign artists, while only 0.5% of the total amount reached Namibian musicians over the past 35 years. A leaked report obtained by Namibian Sun exposes that over N$100 million in royalties have been distributed, with the majority going to musicians from the United States, Nigeria, and South Africa.
This revelation comes just days before NASCAM’s Annual General Meeting, set for Saturday, 5 April, where stakeholders are expected to demand answers and push for reforms in the royalty distribution system.
Music royalties are earned by artists whenever their work is played on the radio, streamed online, performed in public venues, or used in films and commercials. These payments are collected by organizations like NASCAM, which distribute the funds based on music usage reports. However, the leaked findings suggest that Namibia’s system heavily favors international artists, leaving local musicians struggling to benefit from their own creative work.
“If just 10% of that N$100 million had gone to local artists, our music industry would be in a much stronger position today,” said NASCAM representative Robert Shipanga.
He emphasized that the country is losing millions in creative earnings while Namibian artists face challenges in securing airplay and industry recognition.
It’s April Fool
