African musicians and creatives are losing hundreds of millions of dollars a year due to the absence of effective intellectual property (IP) protection, according to the US government.
Citing data from the Music Economy Development Initiative, Katherine Hiner, IP attaché for Sub-Saharan Africa at the US Patent and Trademark Office, said that in Kenya and Nigeria alone, $286m of recorded revenue is left uncollected each year.
In 2025, Sub-Saharan African (SSA) music revenue grew 22.6%, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry almost five times the global average of 4.8%, with South Africa accounting for three quarters of the region's revenue. And yet Africa still only earns roughly 1 to 2% of global music revenue.
Hiner said that the strenthening of regulatory and legal systems is essential if creatives are to realise the true value of their work.
Originally published by African Business.