Can Upcoming Musicians Make Passive Income From Skiza Tunes Without Becoming Famous First?

 

For many upcoming musicians, one of the biggest challenges is the belief that they must first become famous before they can start making money from their music.

That belief can discourage talented artists who are still building their audience. A musician may have professionally recorded songs, a growing social media following and a strong catalogue, yet still wonder whether there is any realistic way to generate income before becoming a household name.

Skiza Tunes presents one potential avenue for monetising music through mobile subscribers. But can an upcoming musician actually earn from Skiza Tunes without becoming famous first?

Yes, it is possible—but there is an important distinction between having a song available on Skiza and actually generating meaningful royalties from it.

Skiza is a caller ringback tone service operated by Safaricom. Subscribers can select songs and have them played to people who call them. Safaricom currently allows customers to search for and subscribe to Skiza Tunes through *811#, while artists can track their income on the platform through *622#.

This means an emerging musician does not necessarily have to wait until millions of people know their name before making their music available to potential subscribers.

The real question is whether the artist can attract enough listeners to turn the song into actual subscriptions.

What Does Passive Income Mean for a Musician?

Passive income in music does not mean earning money without doing anything.

It generally means that a musician creates an income-producing asset—in this case, a recorded song—and continues earning from its use after the initial work of creating and distributing it.

A song can potentially generate royalties repeatedly when people continue subscribing to it.

This is particularly attractive to independent musicians because a song does not disappear after its initial release. If listeners continue discovering it and subscribing to it as a Skiza Tune, the song can potentially continue generating revenue.

However, musicians should avoid thinking of Skiza as guaranteed passive income.

A song that nobody discovers or subscribes to is unlikely to generate significant royalties simply because it has been registered.

The objective should therefore be to create a catalogue of quality music, make the songs available through the appropriate distribution channels and continuously promote them.

Do You Have to Be Famous Before Your Song Can Earn?

No.

Fame can certainly help because a popular artist already has a large audience that can potentially subscribe to their songs.

But popularity is not the only factor.

An upcoming musician can have a relatively small audience and still have individual songs that resonate strongly with listeners.

Consider an independent gospel musician who releases a worship song that becomes popular within a church community.

The musician may not be nationally famous.

However, if hundreds or thousands of listeners like the song enough to make it their caller ringback tone, those subscriptions can potentially contribute to royalties.

This is why upcoming musicians should focus not only on becoming famous but also on creating music that people genuinely want to use and share.

How Can One Song Generate Income?

The basic concept is straightforward.

A musician records a song.

The song is submitted through an appropriate Skiza content provider or aggregator.

Once accepted and made available on the platform, subscribers can find the song and select it as a Skiza Tune.

Safaricom's published information explains that it works with appointed content providers to aggregate artists' content and make it available on Skiza. Safaricom has also stated that artists seeking to make content available should work through existing providers.

Once listeners subscribe, the song has the potential to generate royalties according to the applicable revenue-sharing and contractual arrangements.

Safaricom's current Skiza information also provides an artist income-tracking mechanism through *622#.

The important point is that the musician does not need to personally collect money from every subscriber.

The platform and its content-distribution structure handle the underlying transactions, while the artist receives the applicable share according to the relevant arrangements.

Why Skiza Can Be Interesting for Upcoming Musicians

One advantage of a caller ringback service is that the music becomes part of the listener's everyday telephone experience.

A subscriber who chooses a song as a caller ringback tone effectively exposes that song to people who call them.

That creates a form of organic exposure.

For example, imagine an upcoming worship musician has a powerful song called "My Strength."

One listener discovers the song and subscribes to it.

Every time another person calls that listener, the song may be heard before the call is answered.

Some of those callers may become curious about the song.

They may search for it, share it with friends or subscribe to it themselves.

The original subscriber therefore becomes more than a listener—they can become a source of exposure for the music.

This is one reason an emerging musician should not automatically dismiss Skiza simply because they do not yet have a massive following.

But Don't Expect to Earn Just Because Your Song Is Registered

This is perhaps the most important lesson for upcoming artists.

Registration is not the same thing as revenue.

Having a song available on Skiza does not automatically mean that thousands of people will subscribe to it.

An artist could have ten songs available and still generate very little if listeners are not discovering or selecting those songs.

Conversely, one particularly attractive song can potentially outperform an entire catalogue if it resonates strongly with listeners.

The musician therefore needs to think beyond registration.

The real equation is closer to:

Quality music + availability + discovery + listener interest + subscriptions = potential royalty income

The more effectively an artist can build each part of that equation, the greater the opportunity to generate sustainable music income.

How Can an Unknown Artist Get Their First Skiza Subscribers?

The first subscribers are often the most important because they demonstrate that people are willing to choose the song.

An upcoming musician can begin with the audience they already have.

That may include:

• Family and friends

• Church members

• Choir members

• Worship teams

• Social media followers

• YouTube viewers

• WhatsApp contacts

• Community groups

• Existing music listeners

• Event audiences

The musician can explain how supporters can search for the song and subscribe to it.

For Safaricom subscribers, the official Skiza service currently provides access through *811#.

The objective is not to pressure people into subscribing.

Instead, musicians should make it easy for genuine supporters to discover the music.

Social Media Can Help Drive Skiza Subscriptions

An upcoming musician does not need millions of followers to promote a song.

A small but engaged audience can sometimes be more valuable than a large audience that does not interact with the music.

A musician can create short promotional videos around the song and tell listeners where they can find it.

For example, a gospel artist could publish a short worship clip and say:

"Love this worship song? Search for it on Skiza and make it your caller tune."

The same approach can be used on:

• YouTube

• Facebook

• TikTok

• Instagram

• WhatsApp

• Telegram

• Personal websites

• Email newsletters

The musician's goal should be to connect the listener's enjoyment of the song with a simple action.

Build a Catalogue Instead of Depending on One Song

One of the biggest mistakes upcoming musicians make is expecting one song to completely transform their finances.

Music careers are generally stronger when artists build catalogues.

Suppose an artist releases one song every few months.

Instead of having one potential income-producing asset, the artist gradually builds a collection.

Song 1 may attract one group of listeners.

Song 2 may appeal to another audience.

Song 3 may perform particularly well.

Song 4 could eventually become the artist's breakthrough song.

Over time, the catalogue becomes an increasingly valuable asset.

This is especially relevant to worship musicians because listeners may return repeatedly to songs that speak to particular spiritual experiences, prayer seasons or life circumstances.

Evergreen Songs Can Be Valuable

Not every successful song has to be a temporary viral hit.

Some songs have long-term appeal.

A worship song about faith, prayer, hope, healing, God's faithfulness or overcoming difficult circumstances can remain relevant long after its initial release.

This creates an opportunity for musicians to think about longevity rather than only virality.

An artist should ask:

"Will people still want to hear this song one year from now?"

"Could someone discover this song months after its release and still connect with it?"

"Does this song address an emotion or experience that people repeatedly encounter?"

Those questions can help artists create music with a longer commercial life.

Your Name Does Not Have to Be Famous—Your Song Has to Be Discoverable

Upcoming musicians sometimes focus too heavily on personal fame.

But listeners often discover music before they discover the artist.

A person may hear a song in church, on YouTube, through WhatsApp or from a friend's caller tune.

They may then search for the song.

If the song is properly available and identifiable, that listener may discover the artist behind it.

Therefore, musicians should make sure their:

• Artist name is consistent

• Song titles are accurate

• Cover artwork is professional

• Metadata is correct

• Music is properly distributed

• Social media profiles are easy to find

• YouTube channel is active

• Song information is easy to share

The objective is to make it easy for someone who likes the music to find more of it.

The Importance of Choosing a Reliable Content Provider

Upcoming musicians should pay close attention to the company or content provider handling their Skiza distribution.

Safaricom states that appointed content providers aggregate artists' content for availability on Skiza. Its published partner bulletin also says artists seeking to make content available should contact existing providers regarding the aggregation process.

This makes the agreement between an artist and a content provider important.

Before signing anything, musicians should understand:

• Who owns the master recording

• What rights are being licensed

• How long the agreement lasts

• How royalties are calculated

• What percentage the artist receives

• How payments are made

• How statements are provided

• Whether there are fees

• What happens when the contract expires

• Whether the artist can withdraw the music

• How disputes are handled

Never sign a music distribution agreement simply because someone promises that your song will "make money."

Read the contract carefully.

Don't Assume Every Percentage You See Online Is Your Current Payout

This is particularly important when researching Skiza royalties.

Revenue-sharing arrangements have changed over time.

For example, Safaricom announced different artist revenue-share figures in different periods, including a 40% share announced in 2021.

Older Safaricom announcements also referred to a 30% artist share.

These historical figures demonstrate why musicians should not automatically use an old percentage found in an article or social-media post to calculate what they personally expect to earn today.

The amount an individual artist receives can also depend on the relevant contractual and distribution arrangements.

The safest approach is to ask the current content provider for the applicable terms and obtain the arrangement in writing.

Track Your Earnings

Once your music is available, do not simply upload it and forget about it.

Monitoring performance can help you understand whether your strategy is working.

Safaricom currently states that artists on the Skiza platform can track their income by dialing *622#.

This is valuable because an artist can compare their promotional activity with actual results.

For example:

If you promote a song heavily for one month and subscriptions increase, that information can guide future marketing.

If another song performs better with little promotion, you can study what made that song attractive.

Over time, the artist becomes better at identifying what their audience wants.

Can a Small Number of Subscribers Still Matter?

Yes.

A musician should not automatically assume that only thousands of subscribers are valuable.

A catalogue can grow gradually.

Imagine an artist begins with a small community of supporters.

They obtain their first subscribers.

Then their audience grows through YouTube.

More people discover the music.

Some of those listeners subscribe.

The artist releases another song.

The catalogue grows.

More listeners discover older songs.

The process can become cumulative.

The objective is to build an income-producing music catalogue over time, rather than expecting immediate financial success from one release.

Skiza Should Be Part of a Larger Music Strategy

Upcoming musicians should not treat Skiza as their entire business model.

Modern musicians can distribute and promote music across multiple channels.

Depending on their goals, these can include:

• YouTube

• Streaming platforms

• Social media

• Live performances

• Digital downloads

• Licensing

• Merchandise

• Brand partnerships

• Music teaching

• Events

• Worship ministry

• Direct fan support

Skiza can therefore be one component of a broader music monetisation strategy.

The more diversified the artist's income sources, the less dependent they become on a single platform.

What If You Only Have 100 Fans?

Do not underestimate 100 genuine fans.

A musician with 100 highly engaged listeners may have a stronger foundation than an artist with thousands of passive followers.

If those listeners genuinely love the music, they can:

• Subscribe to songs

• Share songs

• Watch videos

• Recommend the artist

• Attend performances

• Support future releases

• Introduce new listeners

• Request songs

• Follow the artist's catalogue

The goal should therefore be to turn casual listeners into a genuine music community.

Can Skiza Make You Rich While You Remain Unknown?

That is not something any responsible person should promise.

Skiza can provide a route for musicians to monetise their music, but earnings depend on actual usage, subscriptions, contractual arrangements and other factors.

The existence of a song on the platform does not guarantee substantial income.

Safaricom has historically described Skiza as a platform through which Kenyan musicians can earn from their creativity, and the company has reported significant royalty payments to artists over the years.

But an individual upcoming musician's results can be very different.

The right mindset is therefore:

Do not chase guaranteed passive income. Build a catalogue capable of generating recurring income.

That is a much more realistic approach.

The Real Advantage for Upcoming Musicians

Perhaps the biggest advantage is that you can start building your catalogue before you become famous.

You do not have to wait for a record label.

You do not have to wait until your social-media account has hundreds of thousands of followers.

You do not have to wait for your first viral video.

You can create quality music, protect your rights, distribute it through appropriate channels, promote it consistently and build an audience one listener at a time.

Then, if one of your songs eventually becomes popular, you already have a catalogue and distribution structure in place.

Your music can therefore begin working for you while you continue working on your career.

A Practical Strategy for an Upcoming Musician

If you are serious about generating long-term income from your music, consider the following approach.

Step 1: Create Quality Music

Start with songs that genuinely connect with your intended audience.

Production quality matters, but so do songwriting, vocals, arrangement and emotional connection.

Step 2: Protect Your Rights

Make sure ownership and contributor arrangements are properly documented.

Know who owns the composition and master recording and ensure collaborators understand their rights.

Step 3: Choose the Appropriate Skiza Distribution Route

Work with an appropriate appointed content provider and understand the terms before submitting your music.

Step 4: Confirm Your Song Is Live

Do not assume that submission automatically means your song is available.

Confirm that it has been successfully processed and can be found by listeners.

Step 5: Promote the Song

Tell your existing audience about the song.

Use social media, YouTube, WhatsApp and offline networks to create awareness.

Step 6: Build Your Catalogue

Continue releasing quality music.

A larger catalogue creates more opportunities for listeners to discover different songs.

Step 7: Monitor Your Results

Use the available artist reporting tools to monitor your Skiza income.

Safaricom currently directs artists to *622# for income tracking.

Step 8: Keep Growing Your Audience

Every new listener represents another potential fan.

Do not focus exclusively on becoming famous.

Focus on becoming valuable to the people who already listen to your music.

Final Thoughts

So, can upcoming musicians make passive income from Skiza Tunes without becoming famous first?

Yes, they can potentially generate recurring royalties without first achieving celebrity status.

However, the phrase "passive income" should be understood correctly.

The income is not passive at the beginning.

The musician must write or record quality music, protect their rights, work with the appropriate distribution channel, promote the music, build an audience and monitor performance.

The potentially passive element comes later: once a song has been properly distributed and listeners continue subscribing to it, the song can continue generating royalties without the musician having to perform that song live every time someone uses it.

That makes music catalogue development particularly important.

Your first song may not make you famous.

Your first 100 listeners may not change your life.

But those listeners can become the foundation of a catalogue, audience and income stream that grows over time.

The smartest goal for an upcoming musician is therefore not simply to become famous first.

It is to create valuable music, make it discoverable, build genuine fans and turn every song into a potential long-term asset.

Do You Love Worship Songs?

Subscribe to Tabitha Gachanja's worship songs on Skiza Tunes.

Dial *811# on your Safaricom line, then:

1. Select Search for a Song

2. Select Search by Artist Name

3. Type Tabitha Gachanja

4. Choose your favourite worship song and subscribe.

If you love worship music, subscribing to a song is one simple way to support an upcoming worship artist while keeping inspiring music close to you.