ONDA (Office National des Droits d'Auteur et des Droits Voisins)

ONDA (Office National des Droits d'Auteur et des Droits Voisins) is Algeria's public collective management organization for copyright and neighboring rights, established by Law No. 03-05 of July 19, 2003. Based in Algiers, it collects and distributes royalties for authors, performing artists, producers, and publishers when their works are used publicly in Algeria, including on radio, television, and digital platforms.

How ONDA Works

ONDA operates under the authority of Algeria's Ministry of Culture and Arts. It is managed by a board of directors chaired by a representative of the Ministry, with members drawn from sectors involved in copyright and related rights management. The organization employs 237 staff and operates under a legal licensing system.

ONDA's mandate covers:

• Copyright collection from music broadcasters, television channels, radio stations, and reprographic organizations
• Neighboring rights management for performers, musicians, and audio recording producers
• Reprographic rights licensing for educational and professional reproduction of protected works
• International representation through reciprocal agreements with foreign collective management organizations
• Protection of traditional cultural heritage and national works in the public domain

Under Article 119 of Law No. 03-05, ONDA collects royalties for the use of audio recordings in commercial settings. These royalties are distributed at 50% to the performer or musician and 50% to the audio recording producer. The royalty rate is determined by the Minister of Culture after consultation with representatives of rights holders.

In April 2025, ONDA signed a strategic pan-African agreement with CAPASSO (Composers, Authors and Publishers Association of South Africa) at a ceremony in Algiers. The agreement, signed by ONDA Director General Samir Thaalbi and CAPASSO Director General Jotam Matariro under the auspices of Minister of Culture Zoheir Balalou, aims to establish a pan-African technological hub for documentation, traceability, and transparent distribution of digital rights. The partnership also launched the African Alliance of Copyright (AADA) to federate African societies around shared principles of solidarity and efficiency in global negotiations.

ONDA registers works and performances, collects royalties from users, and distributes funds to rights holders based on actual usage data. The organization maintains reciprocal representation agreements with foreign societies to protect foreign rights holders whose works are exploited in Algeria and to ensure Algerian creators are paid when their works are used abroad.

Real-World Example

An Algerian musician records an album and registers the compositions and sound recordings with ONDA. A national radio station plays tracks from the album 500 times over six months. The station pays ONDA a blanket license fee for the right to broadcast recorded music.

ONDA collects the fee and allocates royalties based on the radio station's playlist logs. Under Article 119, the royalty for each broadcast use is split 50% to the performing musician and 50% to the record producer. If the album's producer is the musician themselves (as is common for independent artists), they receive both shares.

If the same album is streamed on an international platform like Spotify, ONDA's 2025 agreement with CAPASSO enables the collection of digital royalties from global streaming platforms. CAPASSO acts as ONDA's international mandate, tracking usage and collecting on behalf of Algerian creators across worldwide digital platforms.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are an Algerian songwriter, composer, performer, or producer, ONDA is the sole organization authorized to collect copyright and neighboring rights royalties on your behalf in Algeria. Without ONDA registration, you earn no royalties when your music is broadcast on Algerian radio or television, performed in public venues, or reproduced commercially.

Register your works and sound recordings with ONDA before public release. Submit complete metadata including performer credits, producer information, and split details. Under Algerian law, the 50/50 split between performers and producers is statutory, so accurate registration of both roles ensures correct distribution.

The April 2025 CAPASSO agreement significantly improves your ability to collect digital royalties from international streaming platforms. Previously, Algerian creators had limited mechanisms for international digital royalty collection. This partnership creates a pathway for your music to generate revenue on global platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

If you are a foreign artist whose music is used in Algeria, ONDA collects royalties through reciprocal agreements with your home society. Ensure your works are registered with your national society so that ONDA can identify and pay for usage of your catalog in the Algerian market.

Related Resources

• Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) - What a PRO is and how it functions
• Neighboring Rights - How neighboring rights work for performers
• Collective Management Organization (CMO) - How CMOs operate globally
• Performance Royalties - How performance royalties are generated and collected
• ONDA Official Website - Visit ONDA for registration and licensing information
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings