Nonini named highest paid singer

Musician Nonini entertains guests at a past party at the Carnivore restaurant in Nairobi. Nonini has been named the highest earning musician in Kenya through royalties, by the Music Copyright Society. The singer is well known for many hit singles including ‘Keroro’. Photo/FILE

What you need to know:

In the last 12 months, the following world musicians have been rated as the top 10 music earners by billboard.com

  • Madonna: $34.5 million
  • Bruce Springsteen: $33.44 million
  • Roger Waters: $21.1 million
  • Van Halen: $20.1 million
  • Kenny Chesney: $19.1 million
  • Dave Matthews Band: $18.9 million
  • Tim McGraw: $18.3 million
  • Jason Aldean: $17.5 million
  • Coldplay: $17.3 million
  • Justin Bieber: $15.9 million

Kenya’s highest paid singer surpassed the million-shilling mark for the first time.

Songwriter Hubert Nakitare, popularly known as Nonini, was the highest paid singer in terms of royalties last year.

The Music Copyright Society of Kenya, while releasing its first quarter royalty distribution report, said the singer earned more than Sh1 million for his songs broadcast in the media.

However, MCSK could not reveal the exact amount of money.

“MCSK can disclose that some of the highest earners have surpassed the million-shilling mark for the first time ever in our history,” said Mr Maurice Okoth, the society’s chief executive in a statement.

“We however are not at liberty at this stage to disclose the actual earnings albeit this shall be done upon obtaining the consent from the earners and also during the annual MCSK awards slated for a date to be announced in July,” he went on.

Burst into scene

Nonini burst into the music scene through his debut single “Nonini ni Nani?

He achieved national and regional recognition with his 2002 track “Manzi wa Nairobi,” a song which praised the beauty of Kenyan women and a follow-up single “Weh Kamu”.

He went on to release his debut album “Hanyaring Game” in late 2004 which included the hit “Keroro” a sheng term for beer.

He has won several awards for his music prowess.

The second highest earner position went to Mr Charles Kanyi Njagua who in music circles is known as Jaguar of the “Kigeugeu” song fame.

He was followed by the late Angela Chibalonza, who was represented by her next of kin Pastor Elijah Muliri.

Kevin Waire, popularly known as Wyre emerged fourth, said Mr Okoth.

In the publishing category, the highest earning publisher from the broadcasting royalties was Tamasha Corporation.

It was followed by Ivory Music, a company owned by Jahd Adonijah popularly known as Maji Maji, while David Makali’s Sound Africa was fourth.

Said Mr Okoth: “A further distribution is to be declared on April 30 this year. The artists and publishers are set to even earn more from their creative output.

“The future is indeed bright for our artists and we shall endeavour to even make life more beautiful to those who make living beautiful, which is the vision of MCSK.”

MCSK is a non-profit collecting management organisation for authors, composers, arrangers and publishers of musical works.

Its main mandate is to collect royalties on behalf of its members and other affiliate collecting management organisations and distribute the same to them.

MCSK aims at building, mobilising and supporting the musical fraternity within Kenya, integrating and enhancing their earnings for their works.