James Murimi @Jamesmurymy
Stakeholders in the music industry have lauded the government for declining to renew licences for Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), saying that the move would relieve musicians from manipulation.
Speaking to the media on Thursday at a Nairobi hotel, the group led by Nairobi Musicians Association (NMA) chairman Hubert Nakitare aka 'Nonini' said their funds have, over the years, been mismanaged by MCSK.
Nakitare said the government, through Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO), had deemed it right by handing over the licence to Music Publishers Association of Kenya (MPAKE).
He said that in the Financial Year 2015/16, the society distributed to the artistes 13 per cent and consumed 87 per cent of the total funds.
“How for instance can anybody justify a collecting society that consumes more money than what it distributes to its members?” posed the artiste.
Said he: “Global governance standards require a Collective Management Organisation (CMO) to only consume a maximum of 30 per cent of its collection and distribute a minimum of 70 per cent to its members”.
NMA Assistant Secretary Nyambura Mwangi, commonly known as Avril, called on MPAKE to streamline the industry by partnering with other organisations to eliminate piracy which she said had bedevilled the sector.
“We thank the President through KECOBO and the Attorney-General for licensing MPAKE and we are optimistic that it shall transparently regulate this industry,” she said.
But on Monday, MCSK called for the resignation of KECOBO executive director Edward Sigei, accusing him of colluding with piracy cartels in the country.
Hundreds of MCSK members staged protests in the city, saying that the board had failed to cushion local artistes from manipulation by piracy cartels.
The society’s chairman and director Gacheru Kiarie said KECOBO had been unconstitutionally attempting to withdraw their licence and deregister the society.
He said the board has, over the years, been formulating policies meant to infringe on the constitutional rights of their members.
“They have failed to curb piracy in this country and they are now fighting us. This is unconstitutional because dissolution of our association can only be done by members themselves. In fact, KECOBO is acting as an activist group,” said Kiarie.
He said that MCSK has been in place for the last 30 years and that it would be hard to disband.
“All our directors are ready to be investigated over graft but we will not allow any attempt by KECOBO to dissolve our society,” he said.
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