Africa-Press – Lesotho. Record label owners, music entrepreneurs and producers came together at the Lesotho Music Spring Conference to inform local artists about receiving royalties for
their music and how they can protect their intellectual properties. Sechaba Moqoko, popularly known as Sir sechaba, a passionate music entrepreneur and the
founder of the Yme Tunes, invited Botswana and South African music veterans for this purpose. As the former Chairperson of Lesotho Copywriters Society of Authors and Artists
(LESCOSAA) he advised artists to register with LESCOSAA because it is the only society that collects royalties in
Lesotho, he said all the music companies are getting licensed so that they receive their royalties starting from next year. Now the founder of the only online music shop in Lesotho, Moqoko explained that the
platform functions exactly like a credit card. “It is the only platform in South Sahara that does not need any formalities when purchasing a song, only confirmation
of the name and credit card pin is needed. It also uses mobile money platforms like Mpesa and EcoCash,” he said. Moqoko edged Lesotho artists to start appreciating this platform and consider it
before opting for international platforms, saying they will not get royalties from international companies if their music is not consumed internationally.
The Copyright Administrator of Sheer Publishing from Johannesburg Khotso Masithela said they work with companies like Composers Authors and Publishers
Association (CAPASSO) and Southern African Music Rights Organization (SAMRO). He said CAPASSO is a mechanical right licensing agency based in Johannesburg which collects and distributes
royalties to its members through music publishers and composers while SAMRO’s primary role is to administer Performing Rights on behalf of their members by
licensing music users such as television and radio broadcasters, live music venues, retailers, restaurants, promoters and shopping centers, through the
collection of license fees, which are then distributed as royalties. Masithela said at Sheer Publishing, they then distribute royalties at 50% each between the composer
and lyrical content writer. Masithela said they also provide a sink license for the protection of Intellectual Property owners because they sell songs to advertising campaigns while charging by the
length of the song. From CD Baby, Sakhele Mzalazala CD Baby is an affordable online distributor of independent music, known as one of the best online record stores.
“It is the only digital aggregator that has top preferred partner status with Spotify and Apple Music. Mzalazala said what makes CD Baby stand out
amongst other distributors is that it can become a “do it yourself platform” where artists can upload their own music and choose when to get paid because
payments are delivered every Monday. ”At CD Baby we don’t wait for month end, you get to choose your own pay day,” said Mzalazala he also mentioned that they only take mine percent of artists
royalties. Meanwhile, a Serial Entrepreneur with business interests in Music, Entertainment, Farming, Property, Film and Multimedia, Seabelo Modibe advised artists to work hand in
hand with politicians as they have a bigger input on developments. He encouraged them to voice their grievances on government radio stations and television and demand for 80% of local music for them to have their due space
in Lesotho music industry. He said it took Botswana 20 years to have a proper music system and the journey was not an easy one. Modibe is well known in the entertainment and events industry
and has staged big events such as the Boosta Bash, Rejuvenation, Botswana International Music Conference, Botswana music awards and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Total Music Group. He was also the manager of the deceased SA hip hop rapper HHP also he is the face behind Cassper Nyovest’s fame.
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