The Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) has launched the Consolidated Music and Audio-Visual Works Tariffs for 2026 to 2028, bringing changes to how royalties get collected across the country’s entertainment and commercial sectors.
The framework consolidates royalty payments for authors, producers, performers, and actors into a single licensing fee, a shift designed to simplify compliance for businesses that previously dealt with multiple rights bodies separately.
What the New Tariffs Cover
The regulations cast a wide net. Mobile DJs face an annual fee of Ksh 30,000, or Ksh 1,000 per event, while DJ academies pay a flat rate of Ksh 20,000 per year. Night clubs, casinos, bars, restaurants, and Airbnbs all fall under a fee calculated at 60% of the Single Business Permit (SBP) fee applicable to each establishment.
Live music carries its own structure. Resident bands and regular live sets attract Ksh 50,000 annually in cities and Ksh 20,000 in other areas. Concerts range from Ksh 50,000 for local paying events to Ksh 100,000 for international shows per event.
Broadcasters operate under a percentage model. National radio and television stations pay 4% of net revenue, with minimum thresholds of Ksh 500,000 for radio and Ksh 400,000 for television. Regional and community stations carry lower minimums, while pay TV subscriptions attract a flat rate of Ksh 750,000 and digital online platforms, including video on demand and OTT services, pay Ksh 250,000.
Retail and public spaces also fall within scope. Supermarkets pay between Ksh 25,000 and Ksh 200,000 depending on floor space and location, salons and barber shops pay Ksh 5,000 in cities and Ksh 3,000 elsewhere, and public service vehicles carry fees ranging from Ksh 4,000 for taxis up to Ksh 15,000 for buses with 34 or more seats.
Political campaigns are not exempt. Presidential candidates face a flat fee of Ksh 500,000, gubernatorial candidates Ksh 200,000, and Members of County Assembly Ksh 15,000 per campaign.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The 2026 to 2028 framework introduces strict timelines. All invoices must be settled within 30 days of issuance. Late payment attracts a compounded penalty of 5% per month. Businesses caught operating without a valid licence risk criminal prosecution under the Copyright Act, with potential fines of up to Ksh 400,000 or imprisonment of up to six years.
How to Stay Compliant
Licensing now runs through a consolidated system, meaning businesses receive a single Joint Licence covering all three main rights-holder groups: MCSK, which represents authors and composers; KAMP, which covers producers of sound recordings; and PRISK/PAVRISK, which handles performers and audio-visual actors.
The move toward consolidation addresses a long-standing pain point for venue owners and business operators, who previously navigated separate licensing processes for each collecting society. Under the new system, one payment settles obligations across all three bodies.
With the tariffs now in effect from 1 January 2026, businesses playing music in any public or commercial setting should confirm their licence status immediately to avoid the steep penalties that accompany non-compliance.
