MIAF releases report on financial impact of COVID-19

The report (attached below) predominantly captures the financial impact of the pandemic on music professionals since the outbreak of the virus and introduction of restrictions on the broader African continent from about 1 March 2020. It also provides an overview of the immediate needs of affected practitioners, while anticipating further impact and offering useful tips and recommendations from industry operators.

The 30-page report is based on data collected over a one-month period, from 1 April to 30 April 2020, through an online survey, industry consultations and case studies in both Francophone and Anglophone Africa. Some 503 respondents from 47 countries took part in the survey, representing various sub-sectors of the African music industry at individual and organisational level.

At the core of the findings is that the pandemic is having a devastating impact on the sector, with all respondents reporting that they have accrued losses since the beginning of the crisis. Many individual professionals (40%) reported losses ranging between $1 000 and $5 000, and some organisations reported losses exceeding $1m. The research also found that most of the affected practitioners did not have any alternative sources of income. Sixty-four percent of individuals and 70% of organisations and companies said they had no other means to generate income. Conversely, 36% of individuals and 30% of organisations and companies indicated that they had alternative sources of income during this challenging period. The report indicates that a majority of respondents (87%) need relief support to survive.

The MIAF asked a number of music industry professionals to react to the survey's findings and give recommendations about how the sector should strategise during the ongoing pandemic and plan for the future. Input from the professionals helped to shape a balanced report that the MIAF hopes would be useful to stakeholders as they endeavor to navigate the effects of the pandemic.

Established in 2013, the MIAF has implemented numerous projects in line with its mission to support African music professionals, including, but not limited to, mobility funding, artist exchange programmes, training, conferences, research, artist promotion and information dissemination via the Music In Africa portal. This year, the MIAF is planning to introduce a project titled Revenue Streams for African Musicians, which will enable music professionals to identify new revenue models and improve their earning capacities.

Download and read the full COVID-19 financial impact report below (attached). Note: Click on the download link in orange and not the icon.