A vexed Kenyan rapper Hubert Nakitare well known as Nonini took on Music Copyright Society of Kenya chairman Ezekiel Mutua over the disbursement of royalties to Kenyan artists.
Speaking on Citizen TV, Nonini accused the MCSK and all Kenyan Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) of ignoring the set directives of disbursing 70% in royalties of the money they collect.
He further ridiculed MCSK for running a crooked system at the expense of denying artists their rightful pay.
“Artists know the amount of money they should earn. A majority of those I represent have not been paid and their songs are always played,” said Nonini.
“Why is money being collected and distributed in bits? Royalties are distributed once…There is no day these people have distributed 70%.”
Nonini further compared the disbursement of royalties to artists in the United States, where he is currently domiciled, with that used in Kenya.
He said that the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), one of America’s biggest CMOs, collected $1.7 billion in 2023 and distributed Ksh.1.5 billion to artists.
“There is zero human interaction because everything has been digitised, we upload our songs on their system and I can log into my account and see my statement,” he said.
“They are mandated to send an annual report to look into detail on how they have spent the money. It is illegal if they are found to have spent only 70%.”
The artist then fingered at Dr Mutua accusing him of bullishly leading at the front, asking him to cease dismissing artists whenever they raise concerns over their royalties.
“If you cannot follow the government’s mandate what are you doing? He is an employee of artists he must respect them. Since when have you seen an employee arguing with his bosses?,” Nonini posed.
This is not the first time Nonini has questioned MCSK over its unjust revenue collection and distribution in the Kenyan music industry.
In January, Dr Mutua revealed that a total of Ksh. 20 million would be disbursed equally to the 16,000 members of the music body, leaving many to speculate that each artist would get a measly Ksh.1,250.
This irked Kenyans including Nonini who wrote on his X account saying “Sad sana… Poleni wasanii wenzangu.”