Music agencies seek to ease payment of royalties
What you need to know:
- KAMP, PRISK, MCSK met players in the matatu industry, hotels, bars and restaurants, broadcasters, event organisers and DJs Wednesday to negotiate payments.
- The meeting was facilitated by the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO), the body mandated to regulate copyright.
Three agencies which collect money on behalf of musicians have unveiled a joint plan that will see those who use music for commercial purposes pay a single tariff and not three.
This is expected to ease payments of royalties.
Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP), Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK) and Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) met players in the matatu industry, hotels, bars and restaurants, broadcasters, event organisers and DJs Wednesday to negotiate amount each should pay per year.
The meeting was facilitated by the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO), the body mandated to regulate copyright.
“The proposed tariffs are just a draft to open up negotiations with those representing business owners. We will facilitate meetings between revenue collection organisations and representatives of business owners to negotiate the rates and come up with a tariff acceptable to everyone,” said KECOBO acting Executive Director Edward Sigei.
The proposed tariffs require public transport vehicles to pay a maximum of between Sh30,700 and Sh36,550 and a minimum of between Sh9,950 and Sh12,950 per year.
The difference in the charges is due to the capacities of the vehicles and whether or not a vehicle has a visual screen set.
Shops and stores will pay a minimum of Sh6,250 per year, depending with the size of the premises in square feet.
Some delegates complained that they have been overcharged in the past.
