PRESS STATEMENT ON DISTRIBUTION OF ROYALTIES

PRESS STATEMENT ON DISTRIBUTION OF ROYALTIES COLLECTED BETWEEN JANUARY 2021 AND JUNE 2021

For Immediate Release 30th July, 2021

Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) was formed by Right Holders (Authors, Composers, Arrangers and Publishers) of Copyrighted Musical Works. MCSK was registered in 1983 (C. 5/83) as a company limited by guarantee (not for profit) under the Companies Act, Laws of Kenya.

Through Exclusive Deeds of Assignment and Exclusive Reciprocal Agreements MCSK is mandated to administer and enforce compliance in Kenya, for Kenyan and International Right Holders, for the exploitation of copyrighted musical works in Performances in Public Places (PPP), Communication to the Public (CTP), Broadcast, Mechanical reproduction and adaptation.

We take this opportunity to announce that the Governing Council of MCSK, in line with the provisions of Article 15 of MCSK Distribution Rules, is declaring a distribution of royalties of Kenya Shillings Twenty-Two Million (KShs. 22,000,000.00) from revenues collected between January to July 2021.

The Society has faced various challenges in the recent past that have resulted to low revenue collection, among them is the effects that covid 19 to businesses that we rely on to collect revenues.

Besides Covid 19, we are operating under untenable conditions and regulations that have continually been imposed to us by the regulator; application of lowered tariffs which came into effect in 2020 and recent deliberate efforts to frustrate timely distribution of royalties. However, we are open to a dialogue with all parties to resolve these issues for the sake of our artists.

Despite the challenges we endeavor to ensure fair, transparent and accountable distribution of royalties as we thank our members for being patient, understanding and standing in solidarity with the society.

Thank you.

MUSIC COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF KENYA (MCSK) BOARD OF DIRECTORS