‘TO CHANGE THE RESULT, YOU MUST CHANGE THE APPROACH’. THE COLLECTIVE MANAGEMENT HEADACHE IN KENYA.
Today’s focus shall concentrate on a letter written by one Mr. Bernard Kioko to the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Arts and Sports, demanding accountability for the mismanagement of his royalties from CMOs operational within the music industry in Kenya i.e. PRISK (Performers Rights Society of Kenya), KAMP (Kenya Association of Music Producer) and MCSK (Music Copyright Society) Bernard’s letter reads in part: “I am a music business owner who owns music copyright in partnership with over 200 Kenyan artists and music business people. In total, our catalog of songs spans over 2000 songs. Over the last 10 years, some of our songs have been the biggest in the country and have received immense radio and tv play. Despite this, we have not received royalties from the songs” His letter then goes on to state that upon his inquiry to KECOBO for royalties statements for royalties collected by CMOs between the years 2014 to 2021, that he managed to procure a breakdown of royalties collected; a breakdown that paints a grim reality for the future of distribution of music royalties in Kenya.