TAKEAWAYS

• UPRS revealed that late singer Master Parrot had Shs734,531 in his royalties account.

• The society is working with the family to identify beneficiaries and process payments.

• Fans have questioned the low amount, reigniting debate over musicians’ royalties and transparency in the industry.

The Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) has left many music fans stunned after disclosing the amount of money that remained in the royalties account of the late singer Master Parrot.

Officials from UPRS recently visited the singer’s family to finalize documentation related to his royalties and identify the rightful beneficiaries who will access the funds accrued from his music.

According to UPRS, Master Parrot had Shs734,531 in his account at the time of his passing. The money was reportedly accumulated from royalties generated by songs registered under the society.

“The late Master Parrot had Shs734,531 in his royalties account. We are currently working with his family to ensure the rightful beneficiaries access the funds,” a UPRS official reportedly said.

UPRS also encouraged the family and close associates of the singer to notify the society of any additional songs that may not have been registered before his death so they can be included in the royalties management system.

“If there are other songs belonging to the late artist that have not yet been registered with us, we encourage the family to bring them forward so they can also be considered,” the official added.

The revelation has sparked widespread discussion among music fans, many of whom are struggling to understand how a veteran musician with several popular songs could have accumulated less than one million shillings in royalties.

UPRS is mandated to collect and distribute royalties on behalf of musicians. However, the organization has previously faced criticism from some artists over allegations of underpayment, lack of transparency, and concerns regarding the management of royalty collections.

The disclosure has reignited calls for greater transparency in Uganda’s music royalty system and better compensation for artists.