RECORDED MUSIC INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Algeria
North Africa
Potential of Recorded Music
We estimate the potential of recorded music value available to songwriters, music performers, publishers, and producers in Algeria. These are annual revenue levels achievable within a well-functioning market supported by critical infrastructure, including robust policies, adequate legal frameworks, and effective collective management organizations and other enforcement mechanisms. By identifying these factors as the necessary drivers of growth, we quantify the opportunity cost of their absence.
The potential value calculations are based on CISAC, ICMP, and IFPI data. We used an econometric model and a cluster analysis approach to benchmark Algeria against peer markets and reflect achievable collection levels given their unique socio-economic contexts. We also factored in a series of foundational assumptions and collective rights management expertise to provide a stable and realistic valuation.
1) Copyright: digital, performance rights (radio & TV broadcasting, rebroadcasting & retransmission, background music and private copying levies), CD & video, synchronisation and other;
2) Neighbouring rights: Streaming, performance rights (radio & TV broadcasting, cablecasting, cable retransmission, public performance, dubbing, private copying levies, and internet (webcasting, simulcasting, catch-up) licensing), downloads & digital, physical and synchronisation.
Coming soon
Socioeconomic Indicators
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via World Bank, using statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices, and UN and ESTAT publications. Accessed 15/01/2026.
46,814,308
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via World Bank Development Indicators database. Accessed 15/01/2026.
$725,712
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via World Bank, using national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files. Accessed 15/01/2026.
$5,752.99
3.70%
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via World Bank, using national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files. Accessed 15/01/2026.
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Accessed 15/01/2026.
27.6%
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via IMF World Economic Outlook. Accessed 16/01/2026.
3.90%
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via US Census Bureau International Database (IDB). Accessed 16/01/2026.
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via World Bank, using United Nations Population Division database. Accessed 16/01/2026.
75.28%
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via CIA World Factbook. Accessed 16/01/2026.
11.50%
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via CIA World Factbook. Accessed 16/01/2026.
29.80%
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Poverty rate at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (% population). Data via
Poverty and Inequality Platform, The World Bank. Accessed 15/01/2026.
0.00%
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via International Telecommunication Union (ITU) DataHub. Accessed 15/01/2026.
76.90%
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via World Bank Global Findex Database. Accessed 15/01/2026.
35.29%
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via World Bank Global Financial Inclusion Database. Accessed 20/04/2026.
5.20%
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via Cable.co.uk. Accessed 20/04/2026.
$0.73
Industry Infrastructure
Collective Management Organisations
Authors & Publishers
Performers
Producers
Voluntary Joint Ventures & Umbrella entities for licensing users
None
Associations
Music Authors
None
Music Publishers
None
Music Performers
Sound Recording Producers/Labels
None
Other
Music Export Office
None
Joint Industry Body
None
Policies
Culture Policy/Strategy
None
Music Policy/Strategy
None
Legal Framework
Digital and Performance Rights Treaties
-
Article 5 - In accordance with article 5, paragraph 3 of the Convention, the Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria declares that it will not apply the criterion of publication provided for in paragraph 1 (c) of that Article.
Article 6 - In accordance with article 6, paragraph 2 of the Convention, the Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria declares that it will protect broadcasts only if the headquarters of the broadcasting organization is situated in another Contracting State and the broadcast was transmitted from a transmitter situated in the same Contracting State;
Article 12 - In accordance with article 16 on reservations and in respect of article 12 of the Convention, the Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria specifies that it will not apply the provisions of that Article as regards phonograms the producer of which is not a national of a Contracting State;
In addition, the Government also specifies that, as regards phonograms the producer of which is a national of another Contracting State, it will limit the protection provided for by that Article to the extent to which, and to the term for which, the latter State grants protection to phonograms first fixed by a national of the State making the declaration; however, the fact that the Contracting State of which the producer is a national does not grant the protection to the same beneficiary or beneficiaries as the State making the declaration shall not be considered as a difference in the extent of the protection.
Other Treaties
National Copyright Legislation
National Treatment
-
Algeria protects works which enjoy protection under the treaties that Algeria is a party.
Foreign authors enjoy protection concerning performance rights and digital exploitation of their works. -
Algeria protects performances and phonograms which enjoy protection under the treaties that Algeria is a party.
Foreign performers and producers of phonograms enjoy protection concerning performance rights and digital exploitation of their fixed performances and phonograms respectively. -
“National Treatment” refers to the assimilation of the treatment of foreign right holders to that of domestic right holders. It is a basic rule of most international conventions and mandates that foreign rights holders from contracting countries must receive the protection within any other contracting country as that country grants to its own nationals, ensuring equal rights under the scope of the relevant convention.
General national treatment obligations are set out in Article 5 of the Berne Convention and Article 2 of the Rome Convention, providing that the members of respective conventions must grant to each other’s nationals the rights provided in the convention. Berne Convention also extends the national treatment to “the rights which their respective laws do now or may hereafter grant to their nationals,” while Rome Convention members are not obliged to extend national treatment to the rights of performers and producers of phonograms which are accorded under their national law over and above the rights enshrined in the Rome Convention.
The criteria for eligibility for protection are provided in Article 3 of the Berne Convention and Articles 4 and 5 of the Rome Convention. With regards to national treatment of producers of phonograms, members of the Rome Convention may reserve the right not to apply either the criterion of fixation or that of publication of the phonogram.
As per WIPO, the total number of members to the key treaties above is as follows:
Berne Convention: 181 Members
Rome Convention: 98 Members
WIPO Copyright Treaty: 118 Members
WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty: 114 Members
TRIPS Agreement: 166 MembersThis is a high-level overview concerning national treatment of music authors, performers and producers of phonograms; for comprehensive and detailed provisions, refer to the laws of each country. The overview:
1) details only the criteria applicable to foreign rights holders, without including the broader set of qualification rules for domestic protection that do not concern them,
2) is limited to performance rights and digital exploitation of recorded music, including works and other protected objects:
- “Performance rights” include radio and TV broadcasting, public performance, and communication to the public,
- “Digital exploitation” includes reproduction rights, distribution rights, communication to the public and making available rights.
The term "based on reciprocity" used in the overview for some countries means that Country A will protect the works of authors or other right holders who are nationals of Country B that is not a member of treaties Country A is a party to, and whose works or other protected objects were first published outside of Country A, only if Country B offer similar copyright protection to Country A’s authors or other rights holders and works and other protected objects respectively first published in Country A.
The term "treaty" in the overview includes conventions and international agreements.
Music Consumption
Domestic Repertoire Quotas
Yes
There are domestic repertoire quotas in Algeria. Audio or television broadcasting services, including web TV and radio, whether general or thematic, broadcasting via satellite, terrestrial radio, cable, or the internet, unencrypted or encrypted, and falling within the public or authorized sector in Algeria must ensure that 60% of the programs broadcast are national programs, of which at least 20% are devoted annually to the broadcasting of audiovisual and cinematographic works, and the proportion of national productions of musical and cultural works expressed or performed in a national language reaches a minimum of 60%.
Digital Streaming Services
GLOBAL STREAMING SERVICES
REGIONAL STREAMING SERVICES
DOMESTIC STREAMING SERVICES
Key Risks and Opportunities
Risks
While GDP growth is steady at 3.7%, the high youth unemployment rate (29.8%) may limit disposable income and impact the potential for music industry revenue generation and market growth.
Only 35.29% of the population has a formal financial account, and credit card ownership is critically low at 5.2%, representing a payment barrier for direct-to-consumer subscription models. Monetisation will likely have to rely on ad-supported tiers or innovative mobile-money partnerships rather than traditional credit card billing.
The absence of a dedicated national culture and music policy framework creates a lack of support and strategic development for the music industry and might stifle investment interest.
Opportunities
The high share of the population under the age of 40 and the high rate of urbanisation represent a potentially large consumer base for music and entertainment. They are the primary drivers of music consumption in a potentially stabilising economy with GDP growth of 3.70% and controlled inflation (3.90%).
Internet penetration is high at 76.9%, and mobile data is affordable at an average of $0.73 per GB, creating an environment conducive to data consumption for video and audio streaming.
Algeria is a signatory to the Berne Convention, Rome Convention, WCT, and WPPT, providing an adequate legal framework of protection for digital exploitation and neighbouring rights, although enforcement requires improvement, essential for music industry's growth.