Artists’ Royalty Unpaid as SABC Reportedly Battles Financial Woes

[Image Source: The DJ Disclosure]

By Kinyua Mwangi

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New details have emerged indicating that top selling South African artists; Kabz De Small, Cassper Nyovest, Babes Wodumo among others are allegedly owed million in royalties by struggling national broadcaster SABC.

The financial woes that the broadcaster is in may result in most artists’ music not being played by SABC.

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Reports by Sunday World as reported by Briefly state that SABC owes artists to a tune of R250-million in royalties. The cash-crunch could affect 38,000 artists who make money from royalties that the station pays them.

The like of DJ Maphorisa and Black Coffee have been affected as well. In a statement, the regulator South African Music Performance Rights Association (SAMPRA) said that they may be forced to pull down all songs lodged with SABC by different artists due to non-payment.

Sampra acts on behalf of all South African artistes and recording labels. By law, all recording artists are to be paid royalties for public performance of their commercially released or recorded performances.

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Record labels also get royalties for the public performance of their commercially released sounds.

SABC through group executive for corporate affairs and marketing Gugi Ndima says it will pay every dime owed to artists.

Ndima said they have a payment plan in the works and that an advanced payment of R20-million to the collecting companies has been made. But, she added, Sampra and SABC are yet to agree on the percentage of the split.