MBABANE – The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade has stated royalties will only be finalised and distributed after April 1, 2026.
This was in response to Senate member Lindiwe Ngwenya, who inquired about when royalties for artists would be distributed. The information is outlined in the ministry’s First Quarter Report dated August 2025. Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo clarified that the process of royalty distribution is not yet ready, as it requires time to implement fully.
“Following the registration of approximately 100 artists during the reporting quarter, the Copyrights Society began, as of April 1, 2025, monitoring and logging of the airplay of musical works on radio and other broadcasting platforms.
This usage data forms the basis upon, which royalty payments will be determined. At present, no disbursements have been made, as the calculation of entitlements is based on cumulative usage data gathered over a period ending April 1, 2026. Only after this monitoring phase can accurate royalty amounts be finalised and distributed to right holders,” Khumalo explained.
He further noted that outreach programmes are being conducted to encourage artists to register for the royalty collection process. “In parallel, the ministry and the Copyrights Society, in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs and other supporters of the creative economy, are actively engaging with artists to ensure more emaSwati register. This will enable all eligible creators to benefit from future royalty distributions,” he added.
Khumalo also highlighted that both artists and broadcasters need to prepare for this process, which is market-dependent. “Furthermore, the ministry is working closely with the creative sector to assist them in effectively marketing their music, recognising that royalty payments are influenced by market demand and actual usage.
Efforts are also underway with the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology to ensure public broadcasters plan and budget appropriately for the use of copyrighted content, hereby supporting a sustainable royalty system for our creators,” he said.
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