Proposed law offers hope to local artistes

There is music in the air for Kenyan artistes should the Music Bill become law. For many decades, majority of popular musicians have led a life of poverty despite putting a smile and a spring on many a Kenyan leg. They have been denied royalties as the multitude of agencies purporting to speak for them swindled them of their hard earned cash.

The new Bill seeks to create a single agency, preferably at the Kenya Revenue Authority, to collect artistes' dues. Public Service Vehicles, hotels and entertainment joints have been playing music to lure clients but have done little to compensate the originators of the creative compositions. The duplication of roles has made it hard for musicians to get their real worth in an industry replete with tricksters.