South Africa has a new music intelligence platform, MAUS (Music Audit Usage System), designed to give artists, songwriters, publishers and record labels independent visibility into radio airplay royalties.
The platform uses South African broadcast data to produce performing rights and neighbouring rights royalty estimates, both retrospectively and in near real time. It was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic in response to an information gap in the music industry, where royalty statements can arrive months after the fact with limited access to the usage data behind them.
How the platform works#
MAUS is not intended to replace existing Collective Management Organisations (CMOs). Instead, it provides an additional layer of independent intelligence. Users can compare royalty statements against recorded radio activity, analyse historical airplay and generate reporting that can support conversations with CMOs, business managers, accountants and rights administrators.
- Monitor catalogue performance across South African radio stations
- Estimate performing rights and neighbouring rights royalties
- Review airplay data retrospectively and in near real time
- Generate reports for discussions with CMOs and rights administrators
Backing and availability#
MAUS is backed by Gresham Rights Management, Audlytics and South African DJ Mark Stent. The platform says it aims to make royalty intelligence traditionally available to major labels and publishers more accessible to independent creators.
MAUS states that its estimates are independent calculations based on monitored broadcast usage and rights information, and do not constitute official royalty statements from CMOs, broadcasters or other third parties. The platform is available at MAUStrack.co.za.
