.... Put pressure on us- Government
The figures were revealed by ESWACOS Director Mmeli Hlanze during the World Intellectual Property (IP) Day Commemoration held under the theme 'IP Has Got Game'
Hlanze said the data was collected through ESWACOS' music monitoring system, which tracks music played on local radio stations.
He said the organisation has been collecting music usage data since April 2025 in preparation for its first royalty distribution, which is expected during the 2026/27 financial year.
He said the low percentage of local music on radio has implications for local artists, particularly when it comes to royalty payments.
"Local music currently accounts for only about 12 percent of the music played on local radio stations," Hlanze said.
He explained that because radio remains one of the country's main platforms for music consumption, the amount of local music played directly influences the royalties that local rights holders receive.
"If local music makes up only 12 percent of airplay, it means that the majority of broadcast royalty value generated from local radio usage is likely to flow towards international rights holders," he said.
Hlanze added that the trend has the potential to slow the growth of the local creative economy if more local works are not broadcast.
The revelation comes as ESWACOS continues to expand its copyright management system.
According to Hlanze, the organisation has received 416 membership applications and has registered 370 copyright works across music, literature and audio-visual categories.
He also said ESWACOS has engaged more than 100 businesses through its licensing programme and expects to make its first royalty distribution during the current financial year.
Responding to the broader challenges facing the creative sector, Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo encouraged artists and creatives to continue engaging Government on issues affecting the industry.
The Minister said Government welcomed constructive engagement from the sector, adding that sustained dialogue could help strengthen the creative economy and create more opportunities for economic participation.
Meanwhile, an anonymous source at one of the country's public broadcasters told Page 6 Entertainment News that the station currently relies heavily on music sourced from YouTube and does not have a dedicated music compiler responsible for curating local content.
The source alleged that the absence of a dedicated music compiler makes it easier for local releases to be overlooked in programming.
ESWACOS urges creatives to register their work
...as copyright system gains momentum
Eswatini's copyright system is beginning to take shape, with the Eswatini Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Society (ESWACOS) reporting an increase in membership, copyright registrations and licensing as it prepares for its first royalty distribution.
The update was shared during the country's commemoration of World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, held under the theme 'IP Has Got Game'
While World Intellectual Property Day is commemorated globally on April 26, Eswatini marked the occasion in June to align with this year's international theme, which highlights the relationship between intellectual property and sport.
Addressing delegates, ESWACOS Director Mmeli Hlanze said documentation remains the foundation of an effective copyright system.
"The first building block of any functioning collective management system is documentation. Before royalties can be collected and distributed, rights holders must be known. Works must be registered. Ownership must be clear. Metadata must be accurate," Hlanze said.
According to Hlanze, ESWACOS has received 416 membership applications to date, with almost 100 applications submitted in the past 30 days alone.
The organisation has also registered 370 copyright works across music, literature and audio-visual categories.
Hlanze said the figures show that more creators are taking steps to formally protect their work.
To improve access to copyright registration, ESWACOS has introduced Bhalisa, an online registration platform that allows creators to register their works remotely without visiting the organisation's offices.
He said the platform was developed to ensure that creators from all four regions of the country are able to participate in the copyright system.
"Our target remains clear. ESWACOS aims to continue growing its membership base and documentation system so that more creators are known, more works are registered, and more rights holders are positioned to benefit when royalties are collected and distributed," he said.
Hlanze encouraged creators not to wait until royalties are announced before registering their work.
The organisation also highlighted progress made through its UNESCO-funded project, Reinforcing Copyrights for Eswatini's Cultural and Creative Industries.
Under the project, ESWACOS held four regional workshops, reaching 327 rights holders across the country.
More than 100 businesses and organisations, including hotels, restaurants, retailers, event organisers and higher education institutions, also participated in copyright awareness and compliance workshops.
Hlanze said licensing is another area where progress has been made. Following the approval of music tariffs by the Copyright Office in 2025, ESWACOS has engaged more than 100 businesses that use copyrighted music and has received over 20 licence applications, with some businesses already licensed.
He said the licensing system is intended to ensure that creators receive compensation when their work is used commercially.
In addition to royalties, ESWACOS announced that it has launched the Creative Industries Development Fund (CIDF) with support from the Eswatini Intellectual Property Office.
The fund has made E100,000 available in small grants to support the creation, production and promotion of new creative works. According to Hlanze, the organisation has already received 70 applications.
Beyond the presentations, delegates also took part in panel discussions focusing on intellectual property and the creative economy.
The discussions covered topics including trademark registration, copyright protection, brand commercialisation and the importance of protecting creative work before taking it to market.
The sessions encouraged artists, entrepreneurs, content creators and business owners to view intellectual property not only as a legal requirement, but as part of building sustainable creative businesses.
ESWACOS said it expects its first royalty distribution to take place during the 2026/27 financial year as the country's collective copyright management system continues to develop.
