×
The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.
  • Standard Group Plc HQ Office,
  • The Standard Group Center,Mombasa Road.
  • P.O Box 30080-00100,Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Telephone number: 0203222111, 0719012111
  • Email: [email protected]

A penny for your trouble: Anger as MCSK pays rapper Abass a shocking Sh89 for his Skiza Tunes

News

Yesterday was a black Monday for some of the well-known mainstream artistes as they walked into the Music Corporate Society of Kenya offices to collect their hard earned sweat in form of money.

Veteran rapper Abass Kubaff is furious after he was paid peanuts as his renumeration for Skiza Tunes.

In a rather callous update, Abass claimed to have been given a mere Sh89 as payment for his Skiza Tunes.

"Still in shock mode…went to Music Corruption Society of Kenya (M.C.S.K.)and the bloody accountant had the nerve to pull out a document that stated my skiza tunes payment is 89 kenya shillings…WTF?????” an angry Abbas wrote on social media.

This follows shortly after Safaricom released a hefty sum to the CMOs to be paid to the artists whose music is sold on the Skiza platform.

But Abass is not alone.

Rapper Majirani famed for the chartbuster Hivyo Ndo Kunaendanga featuring Kenrazy and Visita and another huge song Tukumbukeko, has not been spared.

According to Majirani MCSK showed him a statement of Sh554 for songHivyo Ndo Kunaendanga that had been registered with Skiza Tunes in 2014 without any pay.  

To add salt to injury he was presented with a second statement amounting to the sum of Sh1,223 for his song Tukumbukeko that has been registered with Skiza Tunes for a period of six months now.

On inquiring from MCSK officials what could have gone wrong, they attributed the outcome of the figures to the necessary deductions.

“According to them Safaricom deducted 85 per cent from the monies accrued while the CMO’s also took their shares including taxes and hence the said amounts for each songs,” said a furious Majirani.

Owing to this Majirani opted to forgo his cheque.

This comes after other major artists among them Elani and P-Unit emerged with allegations of similar treatment from the organization and ruthless criticism over the payments they received.

But luckily for them they were reportedly compensated with hefty sums on making their complaints public.

“Enough is enough. It is sad that after years of hard work there are section of people in the name of corporate or companies who are always involved in making sure that our efforts go down the drain as we languish in abject poverty at their expense,” says Majirani.

“It is high time we artists come together on a negotiating table with Safaricom and agree on the way forward since we own the music and not Safaricom nor CMO’s. We deserve a better percentage than what they are giving us,” he added.

“Everything is shocking after having learnt of the fate of some of our popular and respected artists who equally have responsibilities in life. Truth is, I don’t know how MCSK works or if they have the logs but what our artists have been subjected to is unfair and unacceptable,” says Refigah CEO Grandpa Records cum music producer.  

He adds that sometime back MCSK presented him with a cheque of Sh16,000 for the song Hivo Ndo Kunaendanga but declined to take it given the fact that the chartbuster had  continuously enjoyed immense airplay on various media houses for a year and a half.

“I recall writing a complaint on the same and they said they would follow up on the matter which is still pending to date with not a single cent paid to the artist, let alone our recording stable,” he adds.  

The affected artists are now appealing to Safaricom to heed to their pleas and if possible increase their percentage besides paying them directly as opposed to giving money to CMO’s for the same.

“This way at least there will be transparency regarding our payments and equally boost our morale as artists,” concludes Majirani.

Many other artists are yet to find out their fate with given time.  

 

Related Topics


.

Popular this week

.

Latest Articles