Music royalties: Mdundo reveals East Africa success stories

This follows Mdundo’s recent announcement that it will pay artists between $1.2m and $1.5m in royalties for the 2023-24 period. The artists are led by Kenya’s Vijana Barubaru, Tanzania’s Bony Mwaitege and Uganda’s Levixone.

The digital service provider says it is important to share the success stories of rising stars who have experienced impressive percentage growth in their earnings within their respective countries.

“As these artists continue to flourish and make their mark in the music industry, their success stories inspire aspiring musicians across East Africa, demonstrating the potential for growth and recognition on platforms like Mdundo,” the company said.

Below are Mdundo’s top rising stars and collectives in East Africa, and their recorded percentage growth for the aforementioned period.

Kenya

• Vijana Barubaru – 68%
• Taurus Musik (record label) – 60%
• Shiru wa GP – 47%
• Afrisauti VAS Ltd (artist promotion company) – 46%
• Tony Nyadundo – 44%

Tanzania

• Bony Mwaitege – 64%
• Nandy – 51%
• Lulu Diva – 51%
• Christian Bella – 49%
• Mwasiti Almas – 48%

Uganda

• Levixone – 70%
• Ricky Miles – 57%
• Martha Mukisa – 37%
• Rema Namakula – 29%
• Sheebah – 25%

Mdundo added that partnerships with African telcos continued to play a significant role in revenue generation for artist payouts. It said the role played by giants such as MTN in Nigeria and South Africa, Vodacom Tanzania and Safaricom in Kenya had significantly enhanced this mission.

It said one of the standout contributions by telcos had been their instrumental role in promoting DJ mixes. This strategic push had increased the exposure of DJ mixes to a wider audience and elevated the overall user experience.

“The impact of these partnerships extends beyond just financial transactions,” Mdundo said. “By actively supporting and promoting African artists and their music, the telcos are contributing to the growth and development of the music industry across the continent. Their commitment to promoting a thriving ecosystem for African music is evident in their collaboration with Mdundo.com, where they continue to play a pivotal role in driving positive change and innovation.

“As we navigate the evolving landscape of the music industry, the collaboration between African telcos and platforms like Mdundo serves as a beacon of progress and opportunity. These partnerships not only underscore the transformative power of technology but also highlight the immense potential for collaboration in advancing African music on a global scale.”

Mdundo boasts a roster of more than 172 000 content providers, and its collaboration with labels across Africa guarantees its 30.8 million monthly active users access to a wide array of music spanning different genres, styles and regions.