What royalty row reveals about business of music

What the report says

A dispute over music royalties has exposed long-running concerns about how Uganda’s copyright system works. According to Sqoop Uganda, the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) recently announced the distribution of Shs216 million to eligible rights holders, but the move quickly became controversial rather than celebratory.

The debate intensified after musician Douglas Mayanja, known as Weasel, said he had received Shs285,498. The figure drew public criticism because Weasel is part of Radio and Weasel, a duo that has been highly visible in Uganda’s music scene for years. The reported amount raised questions among fans and industry stakeholders about how royalties are calculated and whether the system is transparent and efficient.

Sqoop Uganda reports that the backlash led Goodlyfe Magic Limited to say it intended to end UPRS’ mandate over the Radio and Weasel catalogue, citing concerns about trust and transparency in collective rights management. More broadly, the row highlights the tension between artists, rights administrators and the commercial value of recorded music, especially in markets where royalty collection and distribution remain a source of dispute.

In general industry terms, such disputes often reflect wider debates about governance, record-keeping and how revenue from songs is shared among performers, writers and other rights holders.