Kenyan Deejays Threaten NOT To Play Local Music

So, the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) wants all Kenyan deejays to pay Sh.21,000 a year to get a license to play Kenyan songs. This news has not gone down well with majority of the deejays with a significant section threatening not to play ANY local music in their mixtapes.

Some of the top deejays took to Twitter to vent their anger against this move by MCSK terming it draconian. Check out;

DJ Stylez of Code Red:
#dearkenyanartists if I were you, I’d find a way to make sure that mcsk doesn’t touch the djs. If they do, kenyan music will die. Did you know that djs can easily do a whole night without playing 1 local song, easily!!! I expect you to STAND with the djs when MCSK attempts to do this, just like the djs STAND by YOU. STAND with the THE DJ, or, career death is inevitable. Now let me get back to the decks. #imdone

DJ Kaytrixx:
The MCSK wants all Kenyan Dj’s to pay 21k a year so as to play KENYAN MUSIC…Is that a step in the right direction? I can be able to pay but what about the upcoming Dj’s? Bye Bye Kenyan Music…

DJ Prince:
#dearkenyanartists Find a way to make sure that mcsk doesn’t touch the djs. The beef that will result from this will take a toll on you.

DJ Vin:
#dearkenyanartists Find a way to make sure that mcsk doesn’t touch the djs. The beef that will result from this will take a toll on you. I wouldn mind if it was put on paper those who arent for the idea of Djs paying for their music. For clarity purposes

This debate prompted other industry stakeholders to voice their sentiments;

Arthur K:
my opinion on the ongoing discussion on djs in kenya paying a fee to mcsk……let me say tis… the djs are as important in the music industry just as the artists are important and a working mcsk is also important …. so we should all look for the good of everyone in a balanced way…..which brings me to my question ..HOW MUCH IS THE LICENSE FEE FOR THE DJS PER YEAR? …after tat question is answered then i will proceed with my statement…..Wesleydj Wesley Arthur Kamau its Ksh.21,000……….. thanks dj wesley….which means its ksh 1750 per month…my opinion is.. tis is too much especially for guys who are hustling and trying to make it in the industry as a dj…another thing that needs to be put into consideration is … djs play in clubs, functions or events or parties that have already paid for licenses to mcsk, hence we should all trend very carefully when we again go out to tat dj on a personal level… now i also know tat djs do their own personal mixes and make money from it but to charge them 1750 a month is too much… so if they are to pay ….. we should assess at what point does a dj makes money directly and not by playing in a club or event… but by their own initiative tat does not involve any other party…. and on average how much do they make……mcsk should have a seating wit djs of all walks from the big shots to the dj in kisumu who has no name but is a dj in his own rights and agree on a very reasonable amount becoz my fear is mcsk top management might be in doing tis in good faith but once u send ur guys out there to check who has paid and who has not , thats where the problems will check in and we can all agree tat especially out of nairobi djs play a lot of kenyan music and its important but the minute a dj in nyeri is harassed coz he couldnt afford 1750 then we are not going in the right direction….

Bernard Kioko of Bernsoft LTD:
I think its misleading for someone to say its 21,000 per year and not say what MCSK is allowing them to do once they pay! Please remember DJs do various activities with music. There those that DJ in clubs, there those that make mixes and offer for sale, there those that DJ for events and there are DJ who do it for the hobby. My position is and has been, if you DJ at a club and the music you use is acquired legally, then the club should be paying for a license to broadcast. If you make mixes and offer them for sale or download or streaming (like many DJs are doing) then there is need for a license and 1750 is a very little amount IN THAT CONTEXT. DJs must consider that they are trading in other people’s property (song). The Kenya music industry is not young anymore. We cannot continue to hide behind this because this continues to be the reason why international music records are coming to kenya and taking our our talent and exploit it elsewhere – and keep the money out of kenya. Further to this, DJs need to understand that this is not an issue SPECIFIC to local music. MCSK has been mandated by EMI, SONY, UNIVERSAL, etc through NORM(an association in SA) to collect money for international music. If you know this industry well that should tell you that DJs will also need to pay for international music. So other than DJs just reject the proposal they should engage MCSK to understand what they are paying for and how its done in other countries. Its about time artists started earning from their music. ON THE OTHER HAND – MCSK is not the only body that is suppose to collect money. KAMP and PRISK also are suppose to be collecting money for use of music. For some reason KAMP and PRISK have not been as strong and visible as MCSK is and that is causing us a problem – but we have been engaging them for a solution and we have had some meetings. The role played by DJs is very very crucial in the growth of music in any country but the current crop of DJs must also remember that the industry started on a wrong footing and that change has to come in order to fix the industry. If we have artists earning from their music, then they get to make better music and therefore DJs wont complain that the music is poor quality.

I think all the parties involved (MSCK, DJs & artistes) should reach a consensus before this matter gets out of hand.