Octopizzo, several other artists join MCSK to celebrate collective management day

The second edition of the African Copyright and Collective Management Day officially kicked off today, Septemeber 14 and will focus on celebrating author’s rights.

Creators and authors societies will be joined by special artist ambassadors for the Africa-wide event which has hopes to inform, educate and draw attention to the vibrant contributions of creators and copyright to the lives of millions throughout Africa and beyond.

Copyright and collective management are tools for creators, just like paintbrushes, guitars or cameras. They are also keys to economic development, contributing enormously to the well-being of countries and continents. This is why CISAC is helping raise awareness about its importance across Africa.

Music Copyright Society of Kenya(MCSK) has also made sure that Kenya has also celebrated the event.

MCSK has chosen to celebrate this important event by partnering with broadcasters, through its Copyright Ambassadors by visiting the major broadcasting stations and appealing to them and other users to pay royalties for the benefit of all authors.

Pay

Time has come for Kenyan creators to express themselves with dignity for their rights and the protection of their works not only regarding themselves but also for their children who will embrace the career of being artists’ tomorrow.

The event comes at a time when the Collective Management Organisation (CMO) sent the highest amount of cash to their 14,000 members after collecting Ksh 37 million.

In a tweet, MCSK explained that they have not received any money from any broadcasters who exploit local music adding that the best way was to do a general distribution

“We made a general distribution because if we strictly followed scientific distribution then 70% of the money collected will be paid to the international societies. We all know that Kenyan music receives little airplay. The figures you’d received would be less.” Read the tweet. 

The society sent Ksh 2500 to each member, the highest they have since they started.

MCSK’s defense over ‘peanuts’ payment to Kenyan artistes

Music Copyright Society of Kenya finally speaks after public outrage and artistes’ uproar over alleged ‘peanuts’ pay as royalties.

Just mid last week, Kenya’s music industry big wigs across the board, received payments as their music royalties but to their shock.

Celebrity rapper, Khaligraph Jones took the first step in exposing the disrespect accorded to them by the copyright society having received just Ksh 2,530, back and front.

Soon after, fellow artists followed suite to back up the expose that has since then gone viral.

Defense

Compelling the music body to respond to the allegations but in all earnest tried to defend themselves.

According to MCSK, they distributed royalties to all their 13,967 members but are yet to receive a dime from any broadcasters who exploit music.

MCSK’s tweets read:

Surprisingly, the same board earlier indicated that this is a ‘general distribution’ for artists nationally.

KECOBO

The umbrella body, Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO), issued a statement confirming the disbursement of Ksh 80 Million for the 2nd quarter of the year.

And according to the body, this amounts to 68% of total revenue amassed within the period.

Therefore the Ksh 2,530 that Kenyan artists have received is just but the first slice of royalty received this year. Further on, KECOBO states that royalties of the first quarter of the year will be disbursed ‘in due course’.

Years and still counting, Kenyan artistes are pleading with MCSK over their rightful pay via the campaign ‘Pay Our Dues, Please’.