The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Ukambani comedians who expressed disappointment after missing out on royalties from the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) have secured a significant opportunity with the organization.
Ezekiel Mutua, the CEO of MCSK, announced on social media that he would meet with the aggrieved comedians.
Nzomo Mweene, Kayeye, and Rick Be garnered Dr. Mutua’s attention through creative viral videos expressing their grievances about other artists receiving substantial rewards while they seemed to be excluded.
“Nzomo Mweene was the first to create a humorous video expressing frustration over the lack of royalty payments and attributed it to his fans not consuming his music… In the clip that caught my attention, Nzomo himself admitted that his music quality was subpar and wouldn’t sell. He requested a small token while he worked on improving his music,” wrote the MCSK boss.
Kayeye and Rick Be also posted a video voicing their concerns, with Kayeye lamenting his lack of payment. However, Rick Be critiqued Kayeye’s content, concluding that it didn’t merit any payment, much to Kayeye’s disappointment.
As a result, Dr. Mutua arranged a meeting with comedians from the Ukambani region to hear their grievances and provide guidance on enhancing their craft in the competitive industry.
This development follows a week after artists received substantial royalties from MCSK, with the distribution ceremony held at Safari Park Hotel and attended by Dr. Mutua.
Artists such as Sylvia Ssaru, Otile Brown, and Marakwet Daughter were among the top earners of royalties. Marakwet Daughter, known for the hit ‘Mali Safi Chito,’ received over KSh100,000, a sum that exceeded her expectations.
Dr. Mutua commended Marakwet Daughter for her remarkable journey in the music industry, highlighting her incredible transformation from receiving a meager Ksh67 in royalties to being surprised with a Ksh100,000 check at the event.
