South African Musicians Face AI and Piracy Threats as SAMRO Urges Creators to Protect Their Rights

South African Musicians Urged to Retain Ownership Amid AI Threats

South African musicians and creatives face growing challenges as artificial intelligence (AI) technologies pose risks to the originality and authorship of their work. The Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO), which protects the rights of over 150,000 local music creators, stresses the importance of retaining ownership in this shifting landscape.

Financial Impact of Piracy on Creatives

Piracy remains a major obstacle for the South African music industry. The Recording Industry of South Africa estimates annual losses between R500 million and R690 million due to unlicensed distribution and untracked sharing on digital platforms. This hinders growth and threatens the livelihoods of musicians and other creatives.

SAMRO is responding by modernising its systems, integrating advanced music recognition technology, and collaborating with global digital databases. These efforts aim to improve tracking and licensing across platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and streaming services. Licensing agreements with major social media platforms also help ensure royalties are collected when music circulates beyond traditional channels.

The Legal Gap Around AI and Copyright

South Africa currently lacks specific legislation addressing AI’s role in copyright registration and ownership verification. The country is developing a National AI Policy to balance innovation with ethical responsibility, aiming to support socio-economic development while protecting creators' rights.

SAMRO advocates for clear legislative guidelines that explain how AI platforms are trained and how creators are compensated for their contributions to AI training. This clarity is critical to safeguarding musicians’ rights and ensuring fair treatment as AI becomes more integrated into creative processes.

AI’s Dual Role in the Music Industry

While AI introduces risks—such as confusion over authorship, royalty distribution, and potential economic displacement—it also offers opportunities. For many musicians, AI tools can reduce production costs, enabling high-quality tracks without expensive studio time. AI-powered platforms can also help artists reach wider audiences through improved music discovery on streaming services.

Despite these benefits, retaining ownership of creative work remains crucial. Musicians must ensure that their rights are protected even when AI is part of the creative workflow.

Sharing Music on Digital Platforms: Benefits and Drawbacks

Social media and peer-to-peer sharing channels like WhatsApp provide artists with direct access to fans, bypassing traditional gatekeepers. This can lead to viral success, stronger artist-fan connections, and increased revenue from broader exposure.

However, untracked sharing on these platforms often results in lost revenue. Without official tracking, collective management organisations like SAMRO cannot collect or distribute royalties accurately. Additionally, high piracy rates on illegal channels mean many musicians miss out on rightful income from their work.

South Africa ranks among BRICS countries with high music piracy rates; around 24% of internet users reportedly download music illegally. This widespread piracy continues to undermine the financial stability of local musicians and the broader creative industry.

Moving Forward

Protecting ownership and securing royalties require ongoing adaptation to technological changes. South African musicians and creatives should stay informed about emerging AI tools and legal developments to safeguard their work effectively.

For creatives interested in deepening their knowledge of AI and its impact on industries like music, exploring courses on AI technologies and applications can offer valuable insights and practical skills.