Leaked Report Reveals Namibian Artists Receive Fraction of Music Royalties. A leaked report from the Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music (NASCAM) has uncovered that, over the past 35 years, more than N$100 million in music royalties have been paid out, yet only 0.5% of those funds have gone to Namibian artists.
According to the report, obtained by Namibian Sun, the majority of the royalties were distributed to musicians from the United States, Nigeria, and South Africa. This raises concerns about the financial challenges faced by local artists, who continue to struggle for recognition and fair compensation in their own industry.
Robert Shipanga, a NASCAM representative, emphasized the impact of this imbalance, stating that if just 10% of the N$100 million had been allocated to Namibian musicians, the country’s music industry would be in a much stronger position today. He further noted that millions in royalties continue to leave Namibia, limiting opportunities for local artists to benefit from their creative work.
The timing of the report’s release is significant, as it comes just days before NASCAM’s Annual General Meeting, scheduled for Saturday, 5 April. The findings are likely to spark discussions on how to ensure fairer royalty distribution and better support for Namibian artists moving forward.