How is KMA Records different from KMA Distribution? +
KMA Distribution is a music delivery service — it gets your files onto streaming platforms and pays you 60% of royalties. KMA Records is a full-stack artist partnership that includes distribution plus royalty infrastructure (ASCAP, SoundExchange, Songtrust), managed promotion (SubmitHub pitching, editorial pitch support), radio and TV outreach, and "KMA Records" label credit on all metadata. You keep 75% of royalties instead of 60%. The $499/year price reflects the significantly expanded scope of services and operates on a strict cost-recovery model.
Do I keep ownership of my music? +
Completely. KMA Records is not a traditional label — we never claim ownership of your masters or publishing. You retain 100% of master recording rights, 100% of composition copyrights, and 100% of creative decisions. The "KMA Records" label credit on metadata is an affiliation signal, not a rights claim. This agreement is non-exclusive. You can distribute through other services simultaneously.
Why is the fee $499/year? Are you making a profit on this? +
No. KMA Records operates on a strict cost-recovery model for this annual fee. The $499 goes directly toward the hard costs of setting up and maintaining your career infrastructure: absorbing the Songtrust global publishing onboarding fee, purchasing SubmitHub pitching credits for every release, and covering the administrative labor required to register you with ASCAP, SoundExchange, and your local East African PRO. We do not profit from this fee. Our goal is to make you successful so that our 25% distribution share grows over time. We build the pipeline; you keep the wealth.
What is Songtrust and why does it matter? +
Songtrust is a publishing administrator that registers your compositions with 65 collection societies in 240 countries. Every time your song is streamed outside the US, it generates a mechanical royalty paid to the composition copyright holder — but only if you're registered with the relevant territory's collection society. Independent artists almost universally fail to collect these royalties because navigating 65 different societies is practically impossible. Songtrust handles all of it. KMA absorbs Songtrust's onboarding fee in your $499. Songtrust then takes 15% of performance royalties and 20% of mechanicals collected — the rest flows to you.
What is SoundExchange and am I already registered? +
SoundExchange is the only US government-designated organisation for collecting digital radio royalties — from Pandora, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, and 3,200+ platforms. If you haven't registered with them directly, you are almost certainly not collecting these royalties. They don't require a distributor — they require your own registration. KMA Records handles this registration for every signed artist on day one. It's free to register. The money is just waiting.
Is radio and TV placement guaranteed? +
No. We pitch every release to East African broadcast stations — and we do it formally, with the correct materials and context. But editorial decisions are made by station music directors, not us. What we guarantee is that every KMA Records release is formally submitted to the right contacts at the right stations. That is the same service a traditional label provides. Placement depends on the music, the timing, and the station's current rotation needs.
How does the application process work? +
You complete the application form with your artist information, streaming links, genre, and a brief note on what you're working on and why you're applying. KMA reviews every application within 5 business days. If accepted, you receive a welcome email, onboarding instructions, and payment details for the $499 cost-recovery fee. If we don't think it's the right fit at this stage, we'll tell you honestly and explain why — and point you to KMA Distribution if that's the better starting point. We're not trying to collect fees from everyone. We're trying to build something that actually works.
Can I apply if I'm based outside East Africa? +
Yes. KMA Records is East Africa first but globally open. If you are an African artist in the diaspora, an international artist whose music has East African cultural connections, or a non-African artist who simply wants access to our infrastructure — you can apply. The royalty registration services, SubmitHub pitching, and distribution pipeline are globally relevant. The East African radio and TV outreach is territory-specific and will apply to your country if it's in our coverage zone.
What happens when I cancel or don't renew? +
You may cancel with 30 days written notice to records@kulturemedia.africa. KMA will request takedown of your releases from all DSPs within the notice period. Outstanding royalties earned prior to cancellation are paid in the next payout cycle. Your PRO registrations, SoundExchange registration, and Songtrust account remain active — those are yours, not ours. The ISRC codes issued under KMA Records' prefix remain associated with your recordings permanently.