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Safaricom pays Skiza tunes royalties

Safaricom has now released Kshs 152 Million to the three CMOs (MCSK, KAMP and PRISK) and Premium Rate Service Providers (PRSPs) for music played via the service which had accumulated from July 2015. The three will receive and distribute to different right holders of musical works.

The platform has 5,000 registered artistes who have registered 11,000 songs on the platform.

These followed an agreement between Safaricom and the three CMOs namely; Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK.), Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK) and Kenya Association of Music Producers (Kamp).

With the new deal, Safaricom would pay the royalties monthly unlike previously when they paid every three months. The royalties were also to be paid directly to the three bodies unlike previously where Safaricom signed content provision agreements with companies licensed by MCSK.

 

H_ART THE BAND/SHOE_KRAN CONCERT

Three versatile artistes, Mordecai Mwini Kimeu, Wachira Gatama and Kenneth Muya Mukhwana, going by the stage name H_art the Band, have overcome all odds to become one of the best live bands in Kenya and East Africa. On Saturday 16th April night at The Alchemist in Westlands, the group presented their first live concert dubbed “Shoe_Kran” to their adoring fans that filled up the venue despite the mild cold and rain.

Backed by other artists such as Kiu, Third Hand Music and Abu, the evening was full of artistic music, soulful lyrics and words from the artistes on stage. The band delivered some of their best hits such as Uliza Kiatu, Nikikutazama, Love Phobic and Baby Love. Their music came to life on stage as the crowd sang along to their hits and enjoyed the evening.

 

Artistes in demo over unpaid Skiza royalties

MCSK led artistes in a peaceful demonstration on Wednesday 13th April 2016 for Safaricom to release money owed to them in form of Skiza tunes royalties. Our Directors led the artistes in a street march in Nairobi from MCSK's head office in Westlands to Safaricom's along Waiyaki Way. They delivered a petition to the telecommunications giant, demanding the immediate release of the monies.
A court put the Skiza tunes royalties payments on hold in July 2015. This was after a group of artistes filed a case to stop the implementation of a signed pact between Safaricom and three collective management organisations.
The agreement would have seen the Skiza money remitted directly to the CMOs omitting the third parties who, in this case, are Premium Rate Service Providers. The court ordered Safaricom to stop any Skiza payments until the case is heard and fully determined.

http://www.telecompaper.com/news/safaricom-reassures-artists-about-royalty-payments--1138192