SAMRO Radio Archive

Understanding South African Radio Royalties

Navigating SAMRO Performance Rights in 2026 requires an understanding of the Revenue Unit Factor (RUF). Unlike digital streaming, radio royalties are not a fixed fee per spin. Instead, they are calculated based on the station's total advertising revenue and its total music airtime.

Our SAMRO Radio Archive uses a 10-year weighted average to help independent artists and publishers forecast distributions. By analyzing historical data from 2015 to 2025, artists can see how operational shifts and SABC quotas have historically impacted the artist royalty share.

Maximizing Airplay Revenue

• Territorial Weighting: High-power national stations (Tier 1) like Metro FM and Ukhozi FM command higher ad rates, resulting in a higher payout per spin compared to community stations.
• Ownership Split: Ensure your Ownership Split (%) is accurately reflected in your SAMRO portal. If you are an independent artist without a publisher, you should be capturing 100% of the performance royalty.
• Admin Cost Trends: Notice the Admin Cost percentage in our tool. Lower admin costs at the society level mean more money reaches the creator's pocket.