Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has announced plans to start paying artists via Citizen following complaints over royalties received.
In a statement on Sunday, February 11, the outspoken CS indicated that the government has unveiled plans to integrate a system in the Citizen platform where artists will get a rightful share of their proceeds.
He indicated that in the new system, artists will be able to view the money collected versus what is disbursed.
To actualise the plan, Kuria indicated that the government is spearheading the amendments to the Copyright Act.
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"The government is spearheading amendments to the Copyright Act to create a government-run Collective Management Organisation. All music, copyrights and royalties will be paid through E-Citizen," Kuria stated.
"Our artists will be individually registered. They can view online how much money is collected," he added.
The former Gatundu South MP lauded the move reiterating that it was key to rooting out graft in the disbursement of royalties to artists in the country.
His statement followed a series of complaints raised by artists over receiving pennies despite investing heavily in their projects.
Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) CEO Ezekiel Mutua recently advised artists to update their catalogues and provide key details to enable proper payments.
Mutua said some artists constantly complain that they have not been paid yet they only submit a handful of songs.
“We need members to update their music catalogues, and provide their KRA PIN, ID, Mpesa numbers and/or bank accounts.
“You don't just get royalty payments because you are a musician. You are paid because you are a member and you have updated your records. Some artists do not take their hustle seriously. Someone has over 100 songs out there but they have only submitted one or two,” he said.
Mutua shed light on how the copyright business works and urged musicians to familiarize themselves with intellectual property rights.
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