By Iminza Keboge
Published January 27, 2023
Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP) says the standoff between it and Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO over operating license is over.
Angela Ndambuki, the Chair of KAMP, says KeCoBo has finally issued it with the annual operating license for 2023 ‘after months of negotiations’.
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“KAMP administers the exclusive right to collect license fees from broadcasters and other commercial users of sound recordings and distribute royalties on behalf of our members, being the owners of sound recordings, in accordance with section 28 of the Copyright Act, Cap 130, Laws of Kenya,” a statement from KAMP says.
“It has indeed been a long and arduous process, and we have emerged victorious. We are proud to note that, in pursuit of this license, our organisation has retained the integrity of our membership data and that no additional data was given to the regulator in exchange for the license,” Ndambuki says. “This license allows KAMP to better represent the interests of its members and manage the protection and effective enforcement of their music rights. As the collective management organisation for the recorded music industry in Kenya, KAMP is committed to protecting the rights of our members and providing them with the best possible service. We look forward to continuing to serve the recorded music industry in Kenya.”
She says KAMP and KeCoBo have ‘resolved to abide by the Data Protection Act and ensure all member details are within the custody of KAMP’.
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“KAMP is committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency and integrity in our work with both members and regulators. We are delighted to have achieved this milestone and commit to providing a professional, reliable, and effective service to our members’’ says Maurice Okoth, CEO of KAMP. “We plan to increase our collections to ensure our members receive more royalties. The broadcasters owe us over Sh300 million and we shall be collecting these arrears to distribute to our members during the next distribution scheduled for March 2023. We therefore urge all broadcasters to be compliant.”
Incorporated in 2003, KAMP was registered and granted its first annual licence to operate as a collective management organization (CMO) by KeCoBo in May 2008.
