DJs in Kenya will now be required to pay an annual licence fee of Sh20,000 under new government-approved music tariffs aimed at regulating public music use and protecting artists’ rights.
The directive is contained in a newly gazetted Music and Audio-Visual Tariff framework covering the period 2026 to 2028, which outlines how royalties will be collected across the entertainment industry.
Under the new rules, any DJ performing at events, nightclubs, concerts, or other public venues must obtain a valid licence before playing music commercially.
The regulation also extends beyond individual DJs to include DJ academies, music training institutions, dance schools, colleges, and universities where music is played publicly.
Authorities say the move is grounded in Kenya’s copyright law, which classifies playing music in public as a public performance that requires authorization from rights holders.
Music industry regulators argue that DJs operate as commercial users of music since they earn income from performances that rely on copyrighted works.
Officials insist the licence is necessary to ensure that musicians, producers, and performers receive fair compensation whenever their work is used in public spaces.
The licences will be issued through Collective Management Organisations licensed by the Kenya Copyright Board, which is responsible for regulating royalty collection and distribution.
Currently, only a limited number of such organisations have approval to collect royalties on behalf of artists following ongoing reforms in the sector.
Failure to comply with the licensing requirement could expose DJs and event organisers to penalties under copyright law, including fines or legal action.
Tags: 6G Article Dj DJ Joe Mfalme Entertainment Signs Media Kenya Limited Signs Tv Signsmedia Signstv Signstvkenya
Share this article
FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD