Getting your song on radio can feel like a major win — and it is. But one of the most common questions artists ask is: “Do I get paid for radio play?” And if so, how much?
This guide breaks down how radio royalties work in South Africa, what you can realistically expect to earn, and what steps you need to take to make sure you get paid.
🎵 Who Pays You for Radio Play?
In South Africa, SAMRO (Southern African Music Rights Organisation) is responsible for collecting license fees from radio stations and distributing royalties to songwriters, composers, and publishers.
Here’s how it works:
- Radio stations (from national to community level) pay SAMRO a blanket license fee.
- SAMRO tracks what songs are played (using logs and monitoring tools like Radiomonitor).
- That money is distributed to registered rights holders based on usage — how often your song is played and where.
💸 So, How Much Do You Actually Get?
There’s no fixed “per play” fee, because royalty payments are calculated from a pool of license income and depend on:
- The station tier (national vs regional vs community),
- The number of plays, and
- SAMRO’s annual distribution formula.
However, based on artist reports, SAMRO webinars, and industry discussions, these are common estimated royalty earnings per play:
| 🎙️ Station Tier | 💰 Estimated Royalty Per Play |
| National (e.g. Metro FM, 5FM) | R120 – R250+ |
| Regional (e.g. YFM, Gagasi FM) | R50 – R120 |
| Community Radio | R1 – R10 |
📌 Note: These figures are based on real artist reports, not official SAMRO rates. Actual earnings may vary depending on play frequency, distribution periods, and the size of the station’s license contribution.
🧾 What You Need to Get Paid
Just because your song plays on radio doesn’t mean you’ll automatically receive royalties. To get paid, you must:
✅ 1. Register with SAMRO
You need to be registered as a composer, author, or publisher. Sign up via samro.org.za.
✅ 2. Register Each Song
Every track must be submitted to SAMRO with:
- Song title
- ISRC code
- Writers and their share splits
- Publisher (if any)
✅ 3. Ensure Accurate Metadata
Incorrect or missing data means missed payments. Always double-check your song registrations.
🎧 Do Performing Artists Get Paid Too?
If you’re only the performing artist and not credited as the songwriter or composer, SAMRO won’t pay you.
Instead, you’ll need to register with:
- SAMPRA – for royalties from radio and public performance
- CAPASSO – for mechanical royalties (especially digital downloads and streaming)
🎤 Example: If you performed the song but didn’t write it, SAMPRA may still pay you — but SAMRO won’t, unless your name is on the composition.
🛠️ How Are Songs Tracked?
SAMRO uses station playlists, cue sheets, and monitoring tools like:
- Radiomonitor
- BMAT
- Manual station reports (especially from community stations)
If you suspect your song was played but didn’t get paid, request a usage report from the station or use tracking platforms like:
🧠 Bonus: Sample Calculation
Let’s say your song played:
- 8 times on Metro FM
- 12 times on YFM
- 20 times on a community station
You might earn:
- Metro FM: 8 x R180 = R1,440
- YFM: 12 x R80 = R960
- Community: 20 x R5 = R100
- Total Estimated Royalty: R2,500(before splits if shared with other writers)
🎯 Final Thoughts
Getting played on radio can still bring in real income for South African artists — but only if you’ve done the paperwork. Registering your music properly with SAMRO (and SAMPRA) is crucial if you want to earn what you deserve.
Your music is valuable. Make sure you’re getting paid for every spin.
