Also known as: The Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music · Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music · Namibia Society of Composers and Authors of Music
Nascam — the Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music, responsible for collecting and distributing royalties to local musicians and administering copyright protections.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Nascam can only distribute royalties where the music is actually used, reported and licensed
“The hard truth is that Nascam can only distribute royalties where the music is actually used, reported and licensed.”
Reviving the Legends: The Power of CoversThe Namibian
Nascam is where royalties are distributed and contributors may have claims
“When royalties are distributed through the Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music (Nascam), contributors may each have claims to different royalties depending on the rights they own and any agreements in place.”
The Curse of the Unplanned Hit SongThe Namibian
Nascam should review how royalties from traditional or unattributed music are handled
“Furthermore, our collective management organisation, the Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music (Nascam), should review how royalties from traditional or unattributed music are handled.”
The Silent Extraction: Who Owns Our Ancestral Soundtrack?The Namibian
Nascam has outlined plans to boost royalty collections, cut administrative costs, and improve governance
“The newly confirmed board of the Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music (Nascam) has outlined plans to boost royalty collections, cut administrative costs and improve governance over the next three years.”
Nascam Board Vows to Boost RoyaltiesThe Namibian
Nascam lets unclaimed funds loop back into the general distribution pool
“But I have to ask, why would Nascam be comfortable letting these funds simply loop back into the general distribution pool, knowing full well the void that colonialism created?”
Where Are Our Grandparents’ Royalties?The Namibian
Nascam applies ordinary prescription rule to royalties that were never even claimable
“To now apply an ordinary prescription rule to royalties that were never even claimable in the first place, because of that neglect, feels like the same erasure happening all over again.”
Where Are Our Grandparents’ Royalties?The Namibian
Nascam will invest N$1.7 million into research, copyright reform and digital innovation
“A two-year partnership between Nascam and Unesco will invest N$1.7 million into research, copyright reform and digital innovation within Namibia's music industry.”
Nascam gets N$1.7m for music research projectNamibian Sun
Nascam secured N$1.5m Unesco grant
“The Namibia Society of Composers and Authors of Music (Nascam) held its elective annual general meeting (AGM) on 27 June, during which Joseph Ailonga, known as Jossy Joss, retained...”
Nascam secures N$1.5m Unesco grant as Jossy Joss begins new termThe Namibian
Nascam has said funeral operators may need licences before playing music during services
“Funeral operators may need to get licences before playing music during funeral services or while transporting the deceased, the Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music (Nascam) has said.”
Funeral homes warned over unlicensed music useThe Namibian
Nascam retained its current board for a full three-year term
“The Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music (Nascam) has retained its current board for a full three-year term, while approving governance, operational and member welfare reforms aimed at strengthening copyright administration and improving royalty collections.”
Nascam members endorse board, back reformsAnna Afrikaner, lead singer of Gobabis-based band People's Choice known for the song 'Don't Look Back' (also called 'Siwelewele'), made a major public appearance at the 'Ma /Gaisa Meets Oviritje' concert at Bobby Sissing Stadium at Khomasdal after years away from the stage. She reflects on her regrets about pursuing music as a sole career and is stepping back into the spotlight.
8 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Anna Afrikaner, lead singer of Gobabis-based band People's Choice known for the song 'Don't Look Back' (also called 'Siwelewele'), made a major public appearance at the 'Ma /Gaisa Meets Oviritje' concert at Bobby Sissing Stadium at Khomasdal after years away from the stage. She reflects on her regrets about pursuing music as a sole career and is stepping back into the spotlight.
8 August 2026 · The Namibian →
When younger artists record covers of forgotten masterpieces by legendary musicians, the original songwriters earn royalties again. The article argues that Namibia's radio stations prioritize newer music, leaving older artists without income; Nascam (the Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music) can only distribute royalties where music is actually licensed and played.
8 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian publishes a comedic essay depicting the chaotic, improvisational process by which a Namibian artist and studio crew might accidentally produce a hit song in a makeshift Windhoek studio, with minimal planning or artistic intent.
2 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian reports that Namibia's traditional music communities are systematically excluded from commercial benefits when their ancestral songs and rituals are recorded and licensed by outsiders, receiving minimal compensation while those with recording equipment profit from their heritage.
18 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian musicians have welcomed a new global labelling system introduced by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry to classify sound recordings as either "AI-generated" or "AI-assisted", saying it could improve transparency, strengthen copyright protection, and help listeners distinguish between human-created and AI-generated music.
18 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The newly confirmed board of the Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music has outlined plans to increase revenue to N$15 million, reduce administrative costs from 62% to 30%, and improve member benefits over the next three years. Joseph Ailonga was confirmed as board chairperson.
11 July 2026 · The Namibian →
A musician argues that Namibian performers recorded by the South West African Broadcasting Corporation before independence received no payment for their work and continue to receive nothing, since the broadcaster failed to properly document their names and details, leaving royalties uncollected when recordings are logged as 'unknown' in the Nascam system.
11 July 2026 · The Namibian →
A two-year Nascam-UNESCO partnership will invest N$1.7 million into research, copyright reform, and digital innovation in Namibia's music industry. The initiative will map the music sector across all 14 regions, establish a national evidence base, develop an online copyright platform, and support copyright education and policy dialogue.
9 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Society of Composers and Authors of Music (Nascam) held its annual general meeting on 27 June, where Joseph Ailonga (Jossy Joss) retained his position, and the organisation secured a N$1.5m UNESCO grant.
3 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →
The Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music says funeral operators may require licences to play music during services or while transporting the deceased, as copyright law applies to public performance of music under Namibia's Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Protection Act.
1 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music has retained its current board for a three-year term and approved governance, operational, and member welfare reforms to strengthen copyright administration and royalty collections. The organisation also approved launch of a capacity-building centre funded by a US$93,730 Unesco grant, scheduled to begin in July.
29 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music is heading toward its annual general meeting on 27 June following a turbulent period that included the termination of its chief executive. An interim board appointed in August 2025 is steering constitutional reforms, with former board member Mac-Donald Vihanga calling on artists to participate directly in shaping the organisation's future governance.
28 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Nascam's former chief executive Albert Nicanor says he is considering legal action after being dismissed following disciplinary and appeal findings against him. Nicanor rejects the disciplinary process, claiming it violated his rights and did not meet the standards of fairness required under Namibian labour law.
13 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music's board has fired chief executive Albert Nicanor following a disciplinary process that found him guilty of gross insubordination, fraud, dishonesty, and negligent and unauthorised use of a company vehicle. Acting chief executive Ferdinand Gertze will remain in the position until a substantive appointment is made.
11 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture has invited industry stakeholders to help shape the return of the Namibian Annual Music Awards (NAMAs), which have been dormant since MTC withdrew funding in 2020. A stakeholder engagement session is scheduled for 14 March to strengthen the awards' credibility and gather input on award categories, industry development needs, and future direction.
10 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music has defended its royalty distribution system after a parliament member questioned reports of local musicians earning as little as N$2 per broadcast play. Nascam says the figure is not a fixed rate but is calculated based on total royalties collected from music users and distributed through an automated system, though it acknowledges a need to amend legislation to better address digital platforms and online usage.
2 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian musicians earn as little as N$2 per broadcast play, a rate unchanged since independence, according to MP Frederick Shitana. He called for a national International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) system to help local artists earn from digital platforms and said Namibia's reliance on South Africa for ISRC registration disadvantages creators.
26 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The ||Kharas Regional Council has appointed Megameno Shikongo as acting chief regional officer for three months, following the arrest of former acting CRO Ralph Sachika on fraud, forgery, money laundering and corruption charges. The council is awaiting approval from the Public Service Commission to appoint a substantive CRO by 1 April.
13 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Swart Baster has renewed calls for binding local music quotas on Namibian radio stations, arguing that limited airplay is undermining local artists' incomes. According to Nascam interim board chairperson Joseph Ailonga, broadcasters are being consulted to revise the broadcasting code of conduct, with some indicating willingness to increase local content to 70–90%.
4 February 2026 · The Namibian →
At 18, Willias Nghitotelwa (Mapuzza) is among a wave of Namibian artists building momentum from outside established centres. Despite challenges accessing studios, radio play, and digital distribution platforms, he gained breakthrough with his song 'Mr Driver' through organic social media circulation and plans to release more music by end of February.
21 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Two musicians from Katima Mulilo and Kavango East describe the challenges of building music careers outside Namibia's main industry hubs, citing expensive studio time, difficulty affording professional videos, and limited promotion access, though one has gained recent online traction and another has achieved national recognition after years of persistence.
6 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Two musicians from outside Namibia's main music hubs—DJ Vuyo from Katima Mulilo and UGEE from Kavango East—describe the obstacles facing rural artists, including expensive studio time, costly professional promotion, and years of struggle before gaining national recognition. Both say persistence, self-funding, and remaining opportunity-ready have been key to building their careers.
6 January 2026 · The Namibian →