The Ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts today launched Kenya’s first National Music Policy, which is aimed at streamlining an industry held back by factors such as piracy, insufficient airplay and unfavourable legislation.
The policy seeks to regulate and protect artistes and their work. “It has been years of just music but starting today, the industry is set for a big milestone that has been long overdue,” said the ministry’s Cabinet Secretary Dr Hassan Arero Wario.
The biggest challenge in the industry is piracy, he noted, and the policy sets clear guidelines on how to deal with this vice. The policy also provides for the establishment of the National Music Tribunal would to hear and determine cases related to artiste’s work and their rights.
He said the policy will transform the music into a productive and paying industry. Mr Rufus Thuku, the Director of the Permanent Presidential Music Commission, said stake holders including artists themselves were involved in the formulation of the policy.
The Music Development Fund has also been initiated under the policy to support and nurture talent, which often goes unexploited. The Director of Administration in the Ministry of Sports and Culture Winslas Ong’ayo said that music is a huge industry that can support young people and contribute to the country’s economy.
The mainstream media was also urged to provide 60% airplay of local music. “Music is one aspect of human talent,” Mr Ong’ayo said. The Music Bill is set to be tabled in Parliament to promote local music. The event was attended by various local artists among them Wyre, DK, Ringtone, and Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK) CEO Angela Ndambuki.
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