IllustratifCreative Economy Rights & Monetization Program through AI
Sierra Leone · Western AreaNational Digital Infrastructure · Creative Economy
A WhatsApp-based platform giving West African musicians a verified artist identity, a registered share in every song and mobile-money payouts, scaling from Sierra Leone and Ghana to all twelve ECOWAS states for an indicative USD 11m.¹
Justification
Sub-Saharan recorded music grew 15.2% in 2025 to USD 120m, but South Africa took 78.1%, leaving West Africa heavily under-captured.² Most creators there are not identified in royalty systems, agree ownership on a handshake and have no income record a lender accepts.
- Platform
- Artist ID, song registry and payouts over WhatsApp
- Phasing
- Sierra Leone and Ghana, then ten more ECOWAS states
- Stage
- Pre-feasibility; full feasibility study in Phase 1
- Hubs
- Rented or shared space; no land acquired
Opportunité d'investissement
Structure de l'opération
USD 6.0m over 36 months: USD 1.5m grant and technical assistance, USD 3.0m equity, USD 1.5m concessional or venture debt.¹
Utilisation des fonds
Payments integration, local-language versions, registry interoperability, data protection, feasibility studies and country launches.
Source des revenus
Song registration fees, a 15% distribution commission, verification and data services, and credit servicing.
Ce qui est recherché
Phase 1 financing of USD 2.0m with Sierra Leone as first market, plus lenders for a USD 5.0m creator credit facility.
Pourquoi le projet est bancable
Artist ID, song registration and the rights registry already operate in East Africa. Delivery over WhatsApp needs no new app.
Sub-Saharan recorded music grew 15.2% in 2025 to USD 120m, but South Africa took 78.1%, leaving West Africa under-captured.²
The platform never owns artists' rights and earns only a share of the money it moves. Creators keep 85% of distribution income.
Phase 2 opens only once revenue per artist is proven in pilots; Phase 3 once five markets are live and paying.
Données et éléments probants · Creators today vs with the platform
| Today | With the platform | |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Not identified in royalty systems | Free verified artist ID over WhatsApp |
| Ownership | Agreed on a handshake, never recorded | Ownership shares recorded before registration |
| Income | Radio, streaming, ringtones never reconciled | One statement, paid to the mobile wallet |
| Credit | No income record a lender accepts | Verified income opens access to credit |
Degré de maturité et calendrier du projet
- OriginationGreenfield
- FeasibilityPre-feasibility done
- StructuringTo follow
- Financial closePost-diligence
- Phase 1 operationsTo follow
Principaux risques et mesures d'atténuation
Clearance and compliant controls are needed before linking creator and national ID data; data protection is funded in Phase 1.
Revenue per artist is not yet proven in West Africa; Phase 2 opens only once pilots prove it.
The credit facility sits with partner banks, with strict advance caps and DFI risk-sharing.
Conditions de l'opération
- Instrument sought
- Grant and TA, equity, concessional or venture debt
- Structure
- Separate creator credit facility held by partner banks
- Technology
- Artificial intelligence; WhatsApp-based ID, registry and payouts
- Location
- Sierra Leone first, then all twelve ECOWAS states
- Development stage
- Pre-feasibility; full feasibility study in Phase 1
- Land
- None acquired; rented or shared hub space
- WAIIS pillar
- Digital Transformation
Impact sur le développement
Economic
By year 3, creators keep about USD 3.4m a year in distribution income and reach USD 5.0m in revolving credit.¹
Inclusion
Targets of at least 40% women and at least 60% under 35 among registered creators.
Jobs
About 300 direct roles: hub teams and youth rights ambassadors across twelve countries.
Governance
Traceable, taxable creative income and a national rights registry regulators can supervise.