Artistes protest music society's move to collect skiza tune money

A lobby group of local musicians wants Safaricom Limited to pay their royalties due from usage of their music used as skiza tunes to their content providers.
The musicians drawn from various regions of the country are urging Safaricom not to pay their delayed dues to the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK).
Speaking in Runyenjes town, Embu County on Thursday, they complained that MCSK was exploiting local artists by paying them peanuts as loyalties and not paying others from the money already collected from public service vehicles and various businesses.
They said when Safaricom paid the skiza tunes royalties to the content providers, the money used to reach the musicians, hence were against MCSK receiving the money.
They said they were against the amendment to Section 30A of the Kenya Copyright Law that gave MCK powers to collect royalties on behalf of copyright owners.
The lobby treasurer Eunice Lema, a gospel artiste known for her Niondolee hit song, said she had not received any money from the society for the past 15 years she has been in music hence her resolve that content providers who sell her music to Safaricom receives the money on her behalf.
She said a standoff between the society, the content providers for the Skiza tunes and the musicians had led to Safaricom withholding around Sh600million meant for musicians who are languishing in financial want.