Untapped Potential: African Music Industry Loses Hundreds of Millions Through IP Deficiencies

The US government has cautioned that African musicians and creatives are missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars annually due to inadequate intellectual property (IP) protection. Katherine Hiner, IP Attaché for Sub-Saharan Africa at the US Patent and Trademark Office, revealed this while presenting data from the Music Economy Development Initiative.

According to Hiner, Kenya and Nigeria alone could collect an additional $286 million in recorded revenue each year if proper IP frameworks were in place. This comes as Sub-Saharan African (SSA) music revenues grew by 22.6% in 2025—nearly five times the global average of 4.8%. South Africa currently generates three-quarters of this regional revenue.

The US government advocates for stronger IP protections through initiatives like “IP for Growth,” which includes workshops and policy discussions across the continent. Hiner emphasized that robust cross-border legal systems are essential to help African creatives realize the full value of their work, noting that SSA markets have grown by double digits annually for the past five years.

“When countries ratify international treaties like the WIPO Copyright Treaty and fully implement them at the national level, they create a framework where artists can be properly compensated,” Hiner explained. She pointed to technical protections—like those embedded in digital distribution models—as key enablers of market access for African musicians.

The US has expressed particular interest in helping strengthen IP systems as demand for African music continues to surge globally. “There’s an insatiable appetite for African music worldwide,” Hiner stated. “The creative economy is a sector with the potential to drive economic growth, and we want to ensure rights holders can participate fully in this expanding market.”

With sustained investment in legal frameworks and political will, advocates believe Africa’s music industry could capture a larger share of global revenue—currently estimated at just 1-2% despite its remarkable growth trajectory.