Every song earns two kinds of money: royalties for the recording (collected by your distributor) and royalties for the composition (collected through publishing). Many African songwriters miss the second. To collect it, register your songs with your country’s collecting society or use a publishing administrator.
Key points
- Your distributor collects master royalties, not songwriting royalties.
- Songwriting royalties include mechanical, performance and sync income.
- Each country has its own collecting society, such as MCSK, SAMRO or GHAMRO.
- A publishing administrator can register your songs and collect worldwide.
- Support: WhatsApp +254 791 393 533, email and tickets.
The three main publishing royalties
| Royalty | When it’s earned | Who collects it |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | When your song is reproduced, including streams and downloads. | Mechanical rights societies, publishers or administrators. |
| Performance | When your song is played on radio, TV, in venues or in public. | Performing rights societies (PROs). |
| Sync | When your song is used in film, TV, adverts or games. | Negotiated by you or your publisher. |
Collecting societies by country
| Country | Societies | What they cover |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya | MCSK, KAMP, PRiSK | MCSK: songwriters and publishers. KAMP: sound recording owners. PRiSK: performers. |
| South Africa | SAMRO, CAPASSO, SAMPRA | SAMRO: performing rights. CAPASSO: mechanical rights. SAMPRA: needletime for recordings. |
| Ghana | GHAMRO | Royalties for songwriters and composers. |
| Tanzania | COSOTA | Copyright administration and royalty collection. |
| Uganda | UPRS | Performing rights for songwriters and composers. |
| Nigeria | Check the Nigerian Copyright Commission’s approved list | Approval of societies has been disputed, so confirm before registering. |
How to start collecting
- List your songs with every writer and their percentage split.
- Register with your local society, or let a publishing administrator do it.
- Register each song (the composition), not just your membership.
- Keep credits consistent across your distributor, society and publisher.
- Check your statements and follow up on missing income.
How Interfine can help
Interfine’s publishing administration registers your works with African and global societies such as MCSK, SAMRO, PRiSK and COSON, collects mechanical, performance and sync royalties, and manages splits and songwriter credits, so no revenue is left unclaimed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between master and publishing royalties?
Master royalties pay the owner of the recording. Publishing royalties pay the songwriters and publishers of the composition. They are collected separately.
Does my distributor collect publishing royalties?
Not usually. Distribution covers the recording. You need a collecting society or publishing administrator for songwriting income.
Which society should I join in Kenya?
Songwriters usually join MCSK, sound recording owners KAMP, and performers PRiSK.
Ready to release your music?
Join 20,000+ artists distributing with Interfine Music. One account, 200+ platforms, pay by M-Pesa or card, and real support on WhatsApp.