The domain of Music Rights represents a vital revenue stream for African musicians. Yet, this is a complex field that weaves together many of the ‘sub-industries’ of the music business – from the act of composing new material, to sales and licensing agreements, broadcasting royalties, and synchronisation deals with the film and television industry. The Music Rights section is the longest in our educational series on the revenue streams of the indsutry and intends to achieve two goals: 1. to provide a comprehensive explanation of how music copyrights work in South Africa and beyond, and how they can generate revenue for artists, and 2. to provide practical information to help artists maximise their earning potential. Perhaps more than any other section in this series, we recommend that you work your way through our Music Rights articles from top to bottom. This is because some of the later – and more specific – articles in this section will proceed from the assumption that you have a good understanding of the basics of copyrights and music royalties.

Historically, the Live Performance sector has been crucial to the buoyancy of the music industry, representing a vibrant and varied professional space. But this revenue stream, considered the ‘bread and butter’ for many working musicians, has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and its related social distancing restrictions.

The Live Performance section in our educational series on the revenue streams in the music industry presents information about how to get booked at music venues and festivals, as well as tips on how to maximise your earnings from live shows. It also includes an updated review of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the live sector.

Whether they have official qualifications or not, all musicians develop knowledge and skills over the years by practising, performing live and navigating the music industry. In these uncertain economic times – especially as live performance opportunities have become harder to come by – musicians are encouraged to put these skills to use in new ways, or in different industries, to find additional revenue streams. The Services section of our educational articles is intended to present a range of ideas for musicians looking to venture out into new areas of the music business.

A persistent theme throughout our educational series on the available revenue streams for musicians is that the very nature of the music industry has been in flux over the past decade – and many of these changes have been visibly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Against the backdrop of this shifting commercial landscape, personal branding has emerged as a valuable revenue stream, especially in the music industry. This section outlines some ways in which musicians can leverage personal branding to gain influence, and how to effectively use this influence – often via social media platforms – to create additional income streams.

Despite recent controversies, the South African government has a track record of providing funding opportunities for musicians and other cultural practitioners. Furthermore, the country’s NGO sector is well established, and has a proud history of ‘stepping in’ to fill crucial gaps in education and cultural learning. In addition, broad shifts in social media technology and the music economy at large have seen the rise of crowdfunding and membership platforms, which function as a way for musicians to receive direct contributions from their fans. The Grants and Funding section of our educational series on the revenue streams available in the music industry presents a detailed overview of potential funding sources and opportunities for musicians in Africa.

By Anga Hackula

Funding opportunities for South African musicians

May 24, 2022

By David Cornwell

Crowdfunding platforms for musicians

May 24, 2022

By Music In Africa Foundation

Opportunities in the development sector for South African musicians

May 24, 2022

By Sabelo Mkhabela

NFTs and crypto technology for musicians

May 24, 2022