Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) CEO Ezekiel Mutua has once again denied allegations that Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) tasked with collecting royalties on behalf of registered Kenyan artists are mismanaging the funds.
Mr. Mutua exclusively explains that among the reasons why local artists get poorly rewarded from their art through royalties, is laxity of the Government in enforcing copyright laws. This, he says leads to very low collections and compliance.
He gives an example of 2023 where CMOs collected KSh. 200M yet the collection agencies had invoiced over KSh. 2B, a target that was greatly missed.
“Some users including KBC and other broadcasters owe CMOs over KSh. 1.4B. The public transport sector has not complied since 2019. Enforcement is a Government function,” Mr. Mutua says.
On claims of MCSK mismanaging artists’ funds, Mr. Mutua denies, saying a technology has since been put in place to accurately determine how much each registered artist should be rewarded.
“We have received a distribution system from WIPO free of charge and they are already training our staff on how to use it,” he says.
The CEO has also disregarded a recent plan by the Government to collect royalties via eCitizen.
“It’s the highest level of ignorance. Music is talent like football or athletics. Does Government collect the pay of footballers or athletes through e-Citizen?
Music is a private right and the Government can only get the taxes accruing from payment of royalties, but it cannot purport to administer copyright on behalf of musicians,” – Ezekiel Mutua.
