Popular music group Elani is in trouble after it exposed the alleged rot in the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), a body mandated to collect and pay musicians’ royalties.
On Wednesday, January 13, the trio of Brian Chweya, Moureen Kunga and Wambui Ngugi launched a scathing attack on MCSK through a viral youtube video, revealing how the body paid them just KSh31,000 despite releasing five hits in 2015.
The group explained that they went missing in 2015 because they had run broke and were on debts, and when they received the money, they had to figure out what was really happening.
“We began 2015 being in debts and we are very grateful to the corporates that came, gave us gigs and we were able to clear the debts. But sadly after clearing the debts we sat down the three of us and realized that there is a problem. Why can’t we make money off the avenues that are very open for artistes to make money?” the group questioned.
And it was after they visited MCSK offices to inquire why they were being given just KSh31,000 that they later got a call telling them they would receive KSh300,000 more.
This was when it dawned on them that something was not right in MCSK.
“We realized the KSh31,000 cheque they gave us which was supposed to be the value of Elani music played everywhere over a year did not make a lot of sense to us. We questioned the amount because we were in debt. This wasn’t the amount of money we were supposed to receive especially considering that 2014 was such a good year,” they added.
They then decided to roast MCSK, a video that attracted much attention, earning the singers immense support on social media from fellow celebrities to ordinary Kenyans.
But their expose is set to put them in trouble after MCSK boss Bernard Mukaisi indicated that the body would open a criminal case against the group if it is found that they lied.
Mukaisi said Elani’s move was aimed at tainting the name of MCSK and it was not about the royalties as they claimed.
“When an artiste feels like his/her royalties were not adequately paid or compensated, they are supposed to write a letter to our finance committee to be forwarded to the board. The board then sits and gives an adequate determination to the matter. But Elani never did that,” Mukaisi said as quoted by Star.“This is just a scheme hatched to paint some employees of the MCSK, including the CEO, in bad light. What was paid to Elani was the recommended amount by the board and their allegation can be a subject of criminal investigations if it’s found to be lies. They are just talking from an ignorant-point of view because they don’t even attend regional meetings where matters concerning the processes are addressed,” Mukaisi added.
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