RECORDED MUSIC INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Sudan
Africa
Potential of Recorded Music
We estimate the potential of recorded music value available to songwriters, music performers, publishers, and producers in Sudan. 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 Sudan 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.
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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.
50,448,963
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via World Bank Development Indicators database. Accessed 15/01/2026.
$93,906
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via World Bank, using national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files. Accessed 15/01/2026.
$984.61
-13.96%
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.
34.2%
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via IMF World Economic Outlook. Accessed 16/01/2026.
54.60%
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.
34.87%
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via CIA World Factbook. Accessed 16/01/2026.
11.45%
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via CIA World Factbook. Accessed 16/01/2026.
12.00%
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.
10.10%
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via International Telecommunication Union (ITU) DataHub. Accessed 15/01/2026.
26.40%
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via World Bank Global Findex Database. Accessed 15/01/2026.
15.27%
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via World Bank Global Financial Inclusion Database. Accessed 15/01/2026.
0.40%
EXPLANATORY NOTES: Data via Cable.co.uk. Accessed 20/04/2026.
$1.16
Industry Infrastructure
Collective Management Organisations
Authors & Publishers
None
Performers
None
Producers
None
Voluntary Joint Ventures & Umbrella entities for licensing users
None
Associations
Music Authors
None
Music Publishers
None
Music Performers
Sound Recording Producers/Labels
None
Other
None
Music Export Office
None
Joint Industry Body
None
Policies
Culture Policy/Strategy
None
Music Policy/Strategy
None
Legal Framework
Digital and Performance Rights Treaties
Other Treaties
National Copyright Legislation
National Treatment
-
Sudan protects works of foreign authors who habitually reside in Sudan, works first published in Sudan or first published in another country and simultaneously published in Sudan within 30 days, and in accordance with treaties Sudan is a party.
Qualifying foreign authors enjoy protection concerning performance rights and digital exploitation of the eligible works. -
Sudan protects the rights of foreign performers and producers of phonograms in accordance with the treaties Sudan is a party.
Qualifying foreign performers and producers of phonograms enjoy reproduction rights.
Sudan also protects the rights of foreign performers if the performance takes place in Sudan, is incorporated in a protected phonogram or is transmitted in a protected broadcast programme (i.e., when the headquarters of the broadcasting organisation is in Sudan or transmitters are situated in Sudan). Phonograms are protected if the producer is Sudanese, the first fixation was made in Sudan, and the phonogram was first published in Sudan.
Qualifying 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
No domestic repertoire quotas.
Digital Streaming Services
GLOBAL STREAMING SERVICES
REGIONAL STREAMING SERVICES
DOMESTIC STREAMING SERVICES
None
Key Risks and Opportunities
Risks
A collapsing macroeconomy serves as the primary barrier to entry for Sudan’s recorded music market. Very high inflation and widespread poverty severely erode consumer purchasing power, making music a low priority for most households.
Very low financial inclusion, with a very small share of the population owning a bank account and with credit card ownership near zero, monetisation would have to rely on mobile money or ad-supported models to capture value from the majority of the population.
Non-adherence to key international treaties like the Rome Convention, WCT, and WPPT signifies a weak legal framework for protecting digital and performance rights, creating vulnerabilities for rights holders in the modern music landscape.
There are no CMOs for music rights holders. Without a functioning system for rights management, royalty collection, and licensing, it is likely hindering the development of a sustainable and profitable music ecosystem.
Opportunities
A massive youth population provide a solid foundation for digital music consumption in the long term.