KAMP to pay Sh1.2million to top earning music producer

The Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP) is set to release payments for scientific distribution to its members tomorrow.

These payments are from royalties collected for Q1 of 2024, where KES 17,126,454.89 was received by the organisation.

The Collective Management Organisation (CMO), which boasts a membership of 1,600, has already paid out KES 9,075,873.00 in general and catalogue-based distribution.

A further KES 8,050,170.20 has been set aside for scientific distribution. These amounts are from the 21.12% received by KAMP as its Q1 share from collections.

Tomorrow will also see the announcement of the top three earners in the scientific distribution category.

These earners will receive Sh1,221,607.00 (top earner), Sh734,723.00 (second) and  Sh697,163.00 (third).

“We are now paying 50% of the amounts set aside to local members,” said Angela Ndambuki, KAMP Chairperson. “The remaining 50% is reserved for international record labels who have assigned their collection rights to KAMP. We must, as such, also remit payments to these labels.”

“We will submit the full reports to the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) in order to fully account for the revenue collected during this period. We have previously submitted reports with payments made out to members, and will now add reports indicating who is receiving these payments,” she added.

Angela further added that her organisation will be making available to its members the TV and radio logs used to monitor airplay. This is to ensure transparency in the scientific distribution process.

At the same time, she criticised KECOBO's decision to grant a one-year licence to The Performing and Audio-Visual Rights Society of Kenya (PAVRSIK) to oversee all music and performer rights in the audiovisual sector.

“Thank you once again for standing by KAMP as we navigate the challenges the regulator, Kenya Copyright Board, has unfairly, unlawfully and irregularly placed upon us by denying us our well-deserved licence,” she stated.

“Many are still shocked that a CMO that has not distributed royalties since last year, even when its own members have shown a lack of faith in the organisation, is then deemed as most capable to collect and distribute royalties for all members.”