A section of Kenyan artiste have defended MCSK while others have deiced to take to social media to blast them over the distribution of monies to artists this week.

The likes of King Kaka, Khaligraph Jones, Susan Owiyo and Willy Paul took to social media to express disappointment and criticize MCSK for payment of low royalties amounting to Sh2530.

However, 13 artists among them Maji Maji, Ringtone and Octopizzo have come out to say the ranting artists were misinformed on the distribution that was made by virtue of their membership to the society.

“The artists should relax as the distribution was as per passed regulations to all 15,000 registered members,” Julias Owino, popularly known as Maji Maji said.

“The problem is existing ghost members or artists registering family members with only one song released to enjoy the royalties,” he added.

This, as he said, is what led to low royalties. Octopizzo urged his fellow artiste that there is no need to start up another organization to collect license fees on their behalf as had been suggested.

The artists expect a Performance in Public Places payable in October every year which will include radio and TV broadcast royalties.

So Octopizzo added that in the case artistes receive peanuts come October then they will raise the issue.

There was also a concern that the Music Publishers Association of Kenya withheld royalties for two years and MCSK defended themselves saying they had collected and distributed Sh44 million in royalties which was 68 percent of the total collection.

Royalties collected from small businesses such as barbershops, salons, malls and PSVs.

In a statement, MCSK said the money was collected in two months, May and June, by three collective management organizations (CMO’s). This was after Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) issued licenses the three CMO in March.

The other organizations are Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP) and Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK).

The three signed a commitment document that showed they had agreed to distribute 70 percent of revenues collected.

The joint licensing also allowed users of the works to pay for a single license.

Let us wait and see come October the drama that will unfold. If Kenyan artistes will get what they deserve or if it will be another war because this has been going on for so many years.