Antony Chawagarira
HARARE – Royalty payouts to Zimbabwean musicians have plunged by nearly 79 percent over the past two years, with the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) distributing only US$200,000 among 4,965 musicians for the 2025 licensing year.
The latest payout represents a sharp decline from US$589,361 distributed in 2024 and US$941,379 in 2023, raising concerns about the financial sustainability of the country’s music industry and the welfare of artists who depend on royalties.
According to ZIMURA leadership, the decline has been driven by a combination of licensing restrictions, economic challenges, royalty defaults, and competing collective management arrangements.
ZIMURA board chairperson Alexio Gwenzi said restrictions on licensing cover bands had affected revenue collection, while royalty defaults by some broadcasters further strained the association’s income.
He also cited the diversion of traditional revenue streams from bars, hotels, restaurants, and clubs to a second collective management organisation (CMO), as well as what he described as interference and restrictions on ZIMURA’s operations.
“Had we been allowed to operate freely… we could have easily distributed over US$1 million,” said Gwenzi.
Acting ZIMURA executive director Henry Makombe attributed the reduced payouts to the prevailing economic environment, which he said had resulted in business closures, rising prices, power cuts, and reduced consumer spending.
He said fewer businesses were actively licensed, while some music users delayed payments, affecting funds available for distribution to artists.
Makombe also pointed to competing licensing requirements and the emergence of another CMO collecting for the same rights, which he said had created confusion, misrepresentation, and tariff undercutting.
He further cited instances where businesses paid license fees to entities without mandates from rights holders, resulting in reduced or no royalties being channelled to musicians.
Inaccurate or outdated membership information was another highlighted challenge, with the association stating that it affected the correct allocation and payment of royalties.
The latest distribution saw the highest individual payout reportedly reach US$2,000, although the overall allocation translates to an average of approximately US$40 per musician before accounting for differences in individual earnings.
Gwenzi said ZIMURA remained committed to ensuring that composers received their royalties despite the challenges facing the organisation.
The sharp decline in payouts has brought renewed attention to the need for effective licensing systems, improved royalty collection, and coordinated management of music rights to ensure artists benefit from the commercial use of their creative works.
