Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Artistes sue MCSK, Safaricom over royalties

Gloria Muliro.

Gloria Muliro.
Gloria Muliro
Gloria Muliro
August 10, 2015
BY ELLY GITAU
     
KENYAN artistes have gone to court to stop the Music Copyright Society of Kenya and Safaricom from signing a new deal for distribution of royalties.
An agreement between the collective management organisation (CMO) and the telecommunications giant was to be signed last week, but was thwarted by a court injunction after an application was made at the High Court on July 31 by a section of musicians.
The pact was “to facilitate payments to singers, songwriters, sound engineers, performers and music producers” and would have seen royalties earned from Skiza tunes channelled directly to the CMO. However, the court ordered the status quo to remain pending the hearing and determination of the case.
“...a temporary injunction be and hereby issued against the 2nd defendant (Safaricom) restraining it from remitting, paying or in other way transmitting the applicant's (Irene Suji and Daniel Masivo) royalties to the 1st defendant (MCSK) for 14 days,” read the Court Order in part.
The court also ordered the two defendants to be restrained from implementing the royalty payment deal relating to ringtones. The application was made by the two on behalf of 31 other artistes among them Ringtone, Ben Githae, Mbuvi and Gloria Muliro.
Meanwhile, some music industry stakeholders will hold a peaceful demonstration in Nairobi today in support of Safaricom's Skiza deal with MCSK for the 15 per cent direct royalty payment plan. They also want to lobby for 70 per cent local music airplay in Kenyan media.
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/artistes-sue-mcsk-safaricom-over-royalties#sthash.Q5iHKD0u.dpuf

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