Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
PASTOR Charles Charamba says the dispute over music royalties’ unfair distribution will continue unless local collective management organisations (CMOs) adopt transparent, scientifically based data collection methods.
The Fishers of Men founder has called for the CMOs to embrace technology and stop exploiting composers.
His call for transparency followed the inaugural Zimbabwe Music Rights (ZIMURA) intellectual property owners’ stakeholder engagement forum recently held in Harare.
“You (ZIMURA) have been on a massive membership drive after the arrival of a new CMO (ZICCO), and we are up to 5,000 members, but quality should be prioritised,” he said.
“It’s quite sad that some seasoned musicians are not attending these meetings because they are no longer receiving dues that reflect the quality of their music.
“Honestly speaking, there should be a system that clearly proves who earns what rather than going on a massive membership drive.”
Charamba, who called for transparency and competency, argued that it is high time seasoned artists received what is due to them.
“I am not against the idea of a membership drive, but there must be a clear system where everything is transparent.
“The same artist that you give US$4 to is the one who goes on social media complaining, yet their music is relatively unknown.
“Seasoned artists are not getting what is due to them, which is quite unfortunate. We can’t all be relying on Chitekete.”
Over the years, royalties’ calculations have divided opinion due to a lack of transparency.
ZIMURA has on many occasions come under fire, with some top artists receiving only peanuts.
Sungura ace Alick Macheso, who has always been a member of the Sungura genre dating to his time with Khiama Boys, is on record threatening to withdraw his membership.
The new board also faces the same challenge unless they address the issues raised by Charamba, who was brave enough to voice his opinion on the unfair distribution of royalties.
In countries such as the USA, UK and South Africa, CMOs have made data available online and operate with greater transparency.
Everything is made clear, and each member in a group can see what they are entitled to earn.
This is the complete opposite with local CMOs, which still need to reinvent the wheel and whose membership still needs to be enlightened.
