Guide · Independent artists
How to release your music in South Africa
To release music independently in South Africa: master the song and clear any beat you used, get ISRC codes, register your songs with SAMRO and CAPASSO and your recordings with SAMPRA, and use a digital distributor to deliver the release to Spotify, Apple Music and the other stores. Upload it to AfroPublish as well to earn streaming royalties directly from African listeners.
Step by step
- 1
Finish the record and clear the beat
Mix and master the song, and if it is built on someone else's beat, make sure you hold a licence that covers releasing and monetising it.
- 2
Get ISRC codes
Every recording needs an ISRC, the code royalties are tracked by. Most distributors issue them free; in South Africa they can also be obtained through RiSA, the national ISRC agency.
- 3
Register your songs
As a songwriter, register your compositions with SAMRO for performance and broadcast royalties and with CAPASSO for mechanical royalties, including streaming mechanicals.
- 4
Register your recordings
As the recording artist or label, register with SAMPRA to collect needletime royalties when your recordings are played on radio, TV and in public.
- 5
Choose a distributor
A digital distributor delivers your release to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Boomplay, Audiomack and other stores. Compare annual fees versus commission, payout methods and how long they take to deliver.
- 6
Upload to AfroPublish
Put the release on AfroPublish too, where African listeners stream it and you earn streaming royalties directly, with payouts to your bank, mobile money or PayPal.
- 7
Plan the release
Set the release date at least three to four weeks out so you can pitch it to playlists, line up content, and tell your audience.
Where AfroPublish fits
AfroPublish is a streaming platform and beat marketplace built for African artists. It doesn’t deliver to other stores; instead, your music streams on AfroPublish itself and earns royalties there, under a fan-powered model where a listener’s subscription goes to the artists they actually play. Producers sell beat licences on the same platform. Read how artists get paid and beat licensing explained.
Questions
How do I get my music on Spotify in South Africa?
Through a digital distributor. You upload your song, artwork and details to the distributor, and it delivers the release to Spotify and the other stores. Independent artists cannot upload to Spotify directly.
Does AfroPublish distribute music to Spotify and Apple Music?
No. AfroPublish is a streaming platform and beat marketplace in its own right: you upload once, listeners stream on AfroPublish, and you earn streaming royalties directly. Use a distributor alongside it to reach the other stores.
Do I need to register with SAMRO?
If you write songs, yes. SAMRO collects performance and broadcast royalties for composers, lyricists and publishers. Without registering, royalties earned when your songs are played on radio, TV or in public go uncollected.
What is the difference between SAMRO, CAPASSO and SAMPRA?
SAMRO collects performance royalties for songwriters and publishers. CAPASSO collects mechanical royalties for the reproduction of songs, including streams and downloads. SAMPRA collects needletime royalties for the recording artists and labels who own the recordings.