The Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) CEO Ezekiel Mutua has announced that he has formed a committee to bring amicable solutions between business owners and musicians.
Mutua explained that the committee established will discuss with the business owners whose businesses play music for commercial purposes to reach a mutual understanding for the benefit of artists.
“I am therefore pleased to announce that a committee has been established to discuss with the businesses that play music for commercial purposes to reach a mutual understanding for the benefit of artists,” he said.
He went further to disclose that the business owners had requested a meeting to discuss an agreeable implementation plan following the new tariffs gazetted by the government for playing music on their premises.
“During a recent meeting convened by the Kenya Copyright Board to discuss the administration of copyright, bar owners raised a complaint about the new tariffs gazetted by the Government for playing music on their premises. They requested a meeting to discuss an agreeable implementation plan,” he explained.
Mutua on copyright
He said that they are committed to engagements with the board’s stakeholders to enhance compliance with the copyright law without crippling businesses.
“I was therefore pleased to meet the top leadership of the Metropolitan (Small and Medium) Liquor Traders Association led by the National Chairman Frank Mbogo, Alex Matindi – Secretary General, and Simon Mungai – Advocate/secretary in the presence of my team to chart the way forward. We are committed to engagements with our stakeholders to enhance compliance with the copyright law without crippling businesses,” he said.
During a recent meeting convened by the Kenya Copyright Board to discuss administration of copyright, bar owners raised a complaint about the new tariffs gazetted by the Government for playing music in their premises. They requested for a meeting to discuss an agreeable… pic.twitter.com/uOK6X6y7E0
— Dr. Ezekiel Mutua, MBS (@EzekielMutua) May 30, 2024
Public service vehicles that play music videos are required to pay Ksh2,500 while those that play audio have to pay Ksh2,000.
Matatus carrying 14 passengers pay Ksh7,000 for playing audio and Ksh10,500 for the audio-visual. However, for the 15–35-seaters, the owners are required to pay Ksh14,200 for audio and Ksh17,200 for audio-visual.
Businesses that play music on their premises are required to pay for music licenses. Failure to pay for the music licensing fee attracts a fine not exceeding Ksh500,000 or face imprisonment for a term not exceeding four years or both.
Owners of the 36-55-seater vehicle pay Ksh24,550 for audio and Ksh29,600 for audio-visual and any public vehicle carrying above 55 passengers pays Ksh30,700 for audio and Ksh36,550 for audio-visual.
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