KAMP, SAMPRA ink landmark deal to boost cross-border music rights

The agreement, signed by KAMP CEO CS Maurice Okoth and SAMPRA CEO Pfanani Lishivha, signals a shared commitment to securing fair remuneration for performers and producers whose work is used internationally.

Under the terms of the agreement, KAMP will now collect royalties for Kenyan performers and producers when their music is used in South Africa. In return, SAMPRA will collect and remit royalties for South African rights holders when their works are used in Kenya. This reciprocal arrangement is based on mutual benefit and trust, forming part of a growing network of cross-border cooperation in the African music industry.

“This partnership is a major breakthrough for our members,” said Okoth. “For the first time, Kenyan performers will begin to receive royalties from the use of their music in South Africa, a country where Kenyan music enjoys significant reach. Agreements like this are founded on the principle of reciprocity: ‘you do for me, I do for you’ is now a reality for our industry.”

Lishivha echoed this sentiment, highlighting the strategic investments made to strengthen music rights infrastructure across the region. “We are excited to have this agreement with KAMP. Over the past four years, we have invested significant time and resources into building the capacity of our counterparts in Kenya and Tanzania. Our aim is to enable them to license music users, collect fees, process distributions, and pay rights holders efficiently. We are confident this partnership will result in the flow of neighbouring rights royalties between Kenya and South Africa, ultimately benefiting artists and producers in both countries.”

The signing took place on the sidelines of the 2025 Sub-Saharan Africa Performance Rights Conference (PRC), held in Cape Town from 9 to 10 April. The event, hosted by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) in partnership with SAMPRA, convened a broad spectrum of industry stakeholders, including record labels, Music Licensing Companies (MLCs), Collective Management Organisations (CMOs), and recording industry leaders from across the region.

The agreement is a crucial step in KAMP’s strategic efforts to align with regulatory requirements for a unified rights management system in Kenya, encompassing performers, producers, and sound recordings under a single umbrella. It is expected to open up new revenue streams for many KAMP members who have previously received little to no royalties from the international use of their work.

More broadly, the partnership is part of KAMP’s mission to establish an internationally connected, transparent, and effective royalty collection and distribution system, a system that places African artists and producers on a stronger footing in the global music economy.