By BigEyeUg Team
Ugandan musician Martin Nkoyoyo, better known as Yoyo, is using his role as the board chairperson at the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) to push a strong advocacy message urging that copyright isn’t optional—it’s a necessity.
Speaking on Spark TV’s Daily Soup, Yoyo revealed that UPRS has launched a nationwide campaign to educate both artists and music users about the importance of copyright before enforcement begins. The campaign targets hotels, bars, salons, gyms, gardens, broadcasters, and all other businesses that rely on music to attract and entertain customers.
According to him, the point is simple: music fuels these businesses just as much as water or electricity. “A copyright license should be seen as a basic need,” he argued, stressing that entities profiting from music must recognize their responsibility to pay for it.
He reminded audiences that artists pour huge investments into their craft—writing, recording, producing videos, and promoting songs until they become household favorites.
Yet while businesses earn from the atmosphere music creates, many artists struggle to see returns. “It’s only fair,” Yoyo insisted, “that musicians earn from their work as much as the businesses that benefit from it.”