Mbabane – Local musicians and copyright holders in Eswatini may start earning digital royalties from international streaming platforms following an agreement expected to be finalised in the first quarter of 2026, the Eswatini Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Society (ESWACOS) has confirmed.
Executive Director Mmeli Hlanze, who holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, a Project Management Foundations certificate from the University of Cape Town, and is a Mandela Washington Fellow in Leadership in Business from the University of Texas at Austin, spoke to Independent News Eswatini about ongoing negotiations to expand digital access for Swati artists.
Hlanze said ESWACOS is in discussions with CAPASSO, a South African-based Digital Rights Licensing Agency, to license local music on multiple digital platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple Music, Apple TV, Ayoba, Beatport, Boomplay, Deezer, iTunes, LyricFind, Mdundo, Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), Musixmatch, Netflix, Protrax, Spotify, Tidal, TikTok, YouTube, and YouTube Music.
“The absence of YouTube Music in Eswatini limits local artists and rights holders from building domestic audiences and earning royalties from local use. However, these platforms are accessible internationally, so local works can still generate royalties abroad,” Hlanze said. He noted that Spotify and Apple Music remain accessible to local audiences, allowing them to consume homegrown music.
The agreement with CAPASSO will enable ESWACOS members to receive digital mechanical royalties from both regional and international streaming. Hlanze described this as the first structured system of its kind in Eswatini, with the goal of ensuring efficient and effective collection and distribution of royalties.
Regarding potential economic loss from the absence of platforms like YouTube Music, Hlanze explained that ESWACOS’s priority is to establish a functional royalties system before conducting detailed research into the financial impact on the creative sector.
Hlanze also addressed concerns about international visibility, assuring that Swati artists will maintain access to global audiences since these platforms operate in other countries. “The limitation is mainly for the local audience who do not have YouTube Music access,” he said.
ESWACOS is actively collaborating with international collective management organisations to guarantee that royalties from any international usage, whether digital or through public performance, are collected and returned to Eswatini for the benefit of local rights holders.
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