University Competition at TEXPO STEAMON 25: Students Pushed to Find Solutions for Music Industry Issues within the Creative Economy
In the heart of Africa, a groundbreaking event is about to unfold. The Telco and Technopreneurship Development Centre are hosting TEXPO STEAMON 25, a 5-day hackathon taking place at the Harare Institute of Technology Innovation Hub from 22nd to 26th September 2025. This year's focus is on developing tech solutions for the creative economy, with a particular emphasis on addressing the challenges within Africa's music ecosystem.
One of the critical issues that TEXPO STEAMON 25 aims to tackle is the lack of proper music royalty tracking systems. To address this, Sap Music Group, a UK-based digital distribution and publishing company active in Africa, is developing a smart, scalable publishing platform tailored for African artists and independent labels. This innovative platform includes advanced royalty dashboards that provide real-time insights into revenue streams, detailed by platform, territory, and performance rights organizations, giving artists full transparency and control over their earnings.
Sap Music Group's solutions directly target problems like opaque royalty payments and delayed earnings that have traditionally hindered African creatives. Beyond royalty management, the company also emphasizes educating African creatives on publishing fundamentals, metadata management, and sync licensing to empower long-term sustainable careers in music.
Another crucial aspect of the hackathon revolves around building transparent, artist-centered royalty tracking systems, exemplified by Sap Music Group's advanced dashboards, distribution control, educational resources on publishing, and anti-fraud measures to protect digital revenues. These measures are all crucial to supporting and preserving Africa’s diverse musical landscape.
However, the digital preservation of traditional African music is not just about technology. Africa's traditional music heritage is at risk of extinction due to the passing of elder musicians and the lack of digital archives. To combat this, participants are challenged to build a solution for tracking music playback, specifically using a Raspberry Pi based device.
TEXPO STEAMON 25 is targeted towards tertiary students, and the registration deadline is 31st July 2025. If you're a student with a passion for music, technology, and making a difference, this is an opportunity you won't want to miss. To register, simply apply here.
Join us at TEXPO STEAMON 25 and be part of the revolution that aims to transform Africa's music industry. Let's ensure that Africa's rich musical heritage is not only preserved but thrives in the digital age.
Participants in TEXPO STEAMON 25 are challenged to build a solution for tracking traditional African music playback, using technology like a Raspberry Pi-based device, as part of the endeavor to preserve this heritage in the digital age. The advancements made by Sap Music Group, such as their smart, scalable publishing platform and educational resources on publishing, fall under the categories of technology, education-and-self-development, and entertainment, playing significant roles in the evolution of Africa's music industry.
