The Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) has ordered the immediate closure of all accounts used by the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) for royalties collection. This directive was announced by KECOBO Chairperson Joshua Kutuny during a meeting on Thursday. The new measures also affect the Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP) and the Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK).
The decision to close these accounts follows KECOBO’s transfer of royalty collection responsibilities to the Performing and Audio-Visual Rights Society of Kenya (PAVRISK). “Today we held a consultative meeting with the chairman of PAVRISK, Edwardo Waigwa, and agreed on the immediate closure of KAMP/PRISK (KP) and KAMP/PRISK/MCSK (KPM) accounts used for collection in the previous dispensation,” stated Kutuny after the meeting.
To ensure transparency and accountability, staff involved in royalty collection will be issued IDs with a special code from PAVRISK and KECOBO. This code will link directly to the collection system, allowing for precise tracking of collected funds.
Kutuny revealed that since PAVRISK was granted the sole certificate for royalty collection on June 6, daily revenue has significantly increased. “Following the issuance of a Collective Management Organization (CMO) license to PAVRISK, KECOBO notes that daily collections from music users have risen from Sh600,000 to Ksh1.2 million,” he stated.
With the introduction of an enhanced system, daily collections are projected to reach Ksh3 million. KECOBO highlighted that the decision to exclude MCSK and other bodies stemmed from feedback from music users preferring a single licensing entity.
“Many users have reached out to us, expressing their willingness to work with the Board and the newly licensed CMO for the benefit of creatives,” read a statement from the KECOBO Chairman.
Kutuny also issued a warning: “Any organization attempting to collect on behalf of creatives without KECOBO’s license will be violating the law and will face legal action.”
Recent Comments