KAMPALA, Uganda — Concerns have been raised about the potential impact of the proposed Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025, particularly on emerging musicians who rely on media airplay to gain public recognition.
Youth advocate Martin Luther Nyanzi questioned whether the proposed changes could unintentionally make it harder for upcoming artists to break into the music industry.
In a message shared on his X (Twitter) account, Nyanzi argued that the debate around the Bill appears to focus largely on artists who are already established.
“The request to amend the Bill seems to focus on artists who have already made it in the industry,” he said. “But what about the upcoming ones? How will they get to be known if playing an artist’s music requires broadcasters to pay them? Airplay has always been one of the main ways new musicians gain recognition.”
He suggested that while protecting the rights of creatives is important, policymakers should also consider how new talent will grow within the industry if access to platforms that promote their work becomes more limited.
The proposed Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025 has sparked wider discussion among stakeholders about how to balance fair compensation for artists with opportunities for emerging musicians to gain exposure.
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