The growing prevalence of foreign music on local radio and television has raised concern among local artists.

Artists are urging government institutions and lawmakers to enhance support for local content and ensure an equitable payment of royalties.

Popular Democratic Movement MP Inna Hengari tabled a motion questioning the widespread allocation of airtime for foreign music on local radios and television channels.

Local artists say they wonder if their appeals for airtime are being ignored.

They are advocating for increased local content, emphasising that embracing Namibian music and culture could create new opportunities for artists within the country.

Outlining the Arts and Culture Policy, Nascam CEO Albert Nicanor stated that broadcasters have the challenge of meeting listener preferences while also considering policy guidelines, especially regarding the amount of local content they broadcast.

He said broadcasters are influenced by market demands but also need to adhere to policies that might not clearly specify how much local content should be aired.

"Our goal is purposely to maintain or make sure that copyright is protected, whether we are involved in that or not. It is not our mandate because we are only responsible for the copyright and protection, collection of royalties, and distribution of royalties, but I think the policy, the Namibia Arts and Culture Policy, is the one that drives the narrative and the discourse on what needs to be played on our national radios. I think it's important that the stakeholders come together. nbc is also a stakeholder in the policy that will drive the directive that will come from the government, saying all the broadcasters, commercial or public, must meet the number, quota, or threshold of local content."