Music professionals meet to discuss policy implications of RSFAM project research

The RSFAM project has significant policy implications, and an informed advocacy audit aimed at shaping policies and regulatory frameworks that meet the challenges of the African music industry was conducted by a workgroup of professionals with extensive knowledge in culture, the creative economy, policymaking, intellectual property, trade, development and technological innovation.

The group identified policies that have an impending effect on the earning opportunities in the sector, in order to meet the challenges brought about by the digital age. The seminar was held at Goethe-Institut in Johannesburg and provided a platform for presentations and recommendations, which were then dissected, discussed and prioritised for further exploration, with a view to effect changes in policy that will benefit artists.

Over an 18-months period, the MIAF collected and analysed data on the earning trends of music professionals with a key goal to reduce the findings into definitive revenue models – based on their historical and current performance in different locations. This has resulted in the Revenue Streams for Music Creators in South Africa report, which will be published on the Music In Africa web portal (www.musicinafrica.net) on 17 May 2022.

Another key activity of the RSFAM project has been to capacitate music creators with the skills and tools required to better understand the earning opportunities and revenue models of the South African music ecosystem. These workshops took place in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the Western Cape. The educational content and digital tools will also be made available on the Music In Africa web portal in due course.

For more information about the RSFAM project, visit the official website.

About RSFAM

The Music In Africa Revenue Streams for African Musicians project is supported by UNESCO’s International Fund for Cultural Diversity in the framework of the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the Siemens Cents4Sense programme, Goethe-Institut, and the National Arts Council of South Africa.