President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday 4th signed into law the Copyright Amendment Bill.
The bill sought to have artists receive the 52% revenue generated from Skiza Tunes. The remaining 43 per cent will be shared between telecommunication operators and premium rate service providers. Previously, artists only received 16% of the proceeds with 51% going to the Kenya Revenue Authority.
“Section 30(c) of the new Copyright law provides as follows: premium rate service provider shall be entitled to 8.5 per cent, telecommunication operator 39.5 per cent, and the artist or owner of the copyright shall be entitled to not less than 52 per cent of the revenue,” reads part of the statement.
Recently elected Music Copyright Society of Kenya boss Ezekiel Mutua expressed his gratitude to President Uhuru Kenyatta for signing into law the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2021.
The new law will ensure artists enjoy better royalties. This is because it introduces a new formula in the sharing of revenues collected from ringback tunes.
Our musicians are about to become millionaires!
By Wanjiru Mbaru