The recent signing of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Amendment Bill into law continues to generate debate within Uganda’s music industry, with artists offering sharply divided opinions on what the new development means for creatives.
While many musicians welcomed the move as a major milestone that could finally allow artists to earn more consistently from their work, Azawi stirred conversation after publicly granting television stations, radio stations, bars, and DJs permission to freely use her music without fear of copyright restrictions.
Her comments quickly sparked debate online, with fans and industry players questioning the implications of her stance at a time when artists were celebrating stronger copyright protections.
Speaking during a recent interview, Ykee Benda dismissed Azawi’s remarks as a publicity move aimed at staying relevant during a trending national conversation.
“We are in the showbiz business, and you realize it became trendy and everyone started talking about the signature because Musuuza posted it,” Ykee said.
“With this, some people looked for ways to use the moment to make news. I do not even blame her because she understands the business and looked for a way to get attention,” he added.
Ykee Benda further argued that Azawi may not even have the final authority over her music catalogue, explaining that artists signed under labels often do not own the master recordings of their songs.
According to him, Swangz Avenue, the label Azawi is signed to, holds ownership rights to her masters, giving the company control over distribution, licensing, and monetization decisions.
“Swangz owns Azawi’s music, and they have not come out to say that. If I sign a musician, the masters belong to me,” Ykee Benda explained.
The debate continues to expose the complex realities surrounding music ownership, artist-label agreements, and the future of copyright enforcement in Uganda’s entertainment industry.
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