The Managing Director of the Eswatini Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Society, Mmeli Hlanze, was among key African industry leaders who attended the IFPI Africa Performance Rights Conference 2026 held in Lagos, where critical conversations shaping the future of the continent’s recorded music sector took centre stage.
The high-level conference, organised by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, brought together record label executives, collective management organisations (CMOs), music licensing companies, and policymakers from across Africa to address persistent industry challenges while unlocking new growth opportunities.
Hlanze’s presence at the conference reflects Eswatini’s growing participation in continental platforms aimed at strengthening the music industry.
The meeting was officially opened by Hannatu Musawa, Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, who highlighted Africa’s growing influence in the global music landscape. She pointed to strong revenue growth across Sub-Saharan Africa and the increasing global reach of African music as clear indicators of a sector on the rise.
Held under the theme ‘Addressing Challenges and Leveraging Opportunities to Drive the Sustainable Growth of Recorded Music in Africa’, the conference built on deliberations from the 2025 edition in Cape Town, South Africa. Discussions focused on strengthening performance rights licensing, improving royalty collections, and enhancing the effectiveness of collective management systems across the region.
Throughout the two-day engagement, Hlanze joined fellow delegates in engaging with presentations and panel discussions that examined key barriers to growth in Africa’s recording industry. Central to these discussions was the need for stronger intellectual property frameworks, improved enforcement against piracy, and the modernisation of licensing systems to align with global standards.
Industry experts, including Lauri Rechardt, emphasised the critical role played by collective management organisations in the recorded music value chain, particularly in licensing music users and ensuring the fair distribution of royalties. These insights are particularly relevant for ESWACOS as it continues to strengthen its operations and service delivery to rights holders in Eswatini.
The conference also provided an opportunity for delegates to assess progress made since the 2025 PRC and to review the implementation of commitments aimed at addressing gaps in sound recording collective management. Participants explored practical solutions to improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability within licensing systems.
A key area of focus was the persistent challenge of piracy, which continues to undermine revenue generation for artists and rights holders. Delegates highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts between governments, regulators, and industry stakeholders to combat illegal distribution channels, including the implementation of site-blocking measures and stronger enforcement mechanisms.
Emerging trends such as the growing use of artificial intelligence in music production and distribution were also discussed. Participants noted that while AI presents new opportunities for innovation, there is an urgent need for clear policies to ensure that the use of copyrighted works is properly regulated and that creators are fairly compensated.
For Hlanze, attending the conference provided valuable exposure to international best practices and evolving trends within the global music industry. The engagement offered a platform to observe how other markets are addressing common challenges and to identify strategies that could be adapted to the Eswatini context.
The conference further underscored the importance of investment in the recorded music sector. Delegates called on governments across Africa to create enabling environments that attract both local and international investors, recognising the industry’s potential to contribute significantly to economic growth, job creation, and cultural development.
The event concluded with participating organisations committing to a series of resolutions aimed at strengthening licensing frameworks and driving revenue growth across the continent. These include reviewing broadcast licence agreements, expanding public performance markets, and developing long-term strategic approaches aligned with IFPI guidelines.
Hlanze’s participation at PRC 2026 highlights ESWACOS’ commitment to staying abreast of regional and global developments in copyright management and performance rights licensing. By engaging in such platforms, the organisation continues to position itself to better support emaSwati artists and rights holders in an increasingly competitive and digital global marketplace.
His attendance also reinforces Eswatini’s role in the broader African creative economy, as stakeholders across the continent work collectively to ensure that the value generated by African music translates into sustainable economic returns for its creators.
