Nascam royalty payments delayed
Frustration mounts as artists wait patiently for their royalties from the Namibian Society of Composer and Authors of Music (Nascam) for 2017.
According to the CEO, John Max, the holdup is caused by technicalities and the duplication of some artists' names. However, he said they have been working tirelessly to rectify the matter.
“If there is a mistake, the system picks it up and until it is rectified the payments will not go through.
“The corrections have been made on the first batch processed and 55 of 100 members have received their payments.
“The other members will be paid within this week,” Max told Namibian Sun.
The first payments Nascam made were to the longest registered members of Nascam, enlisting between 1992 and 1996, and the last payments will be made to members who joined after that.
In total, Nascam will be making payments to 4 000 local artists to the tune of N$1.6 million and this year, Namibian artists will be getting the bigger chunk of the money.
The highest paid member thus far received N$1 300 and the lowest, N$210. Some of the members who have been paid include Oteya, Jossy Joss, Willem Afrikaner, Muambo Gwaambambi and Peter Auchab.
“Many radio stations pay biannually and some pay N$60 000 per year which is too little to be distributed to more than 4 000 artists. So we let the money accumulate for three years and make payments after the administration costs and international artists royalties are paid,” Max said.
Nascam does have consequences for radio stations who do not pay their dues, including legal avenues.
Max added that some artists complain they get too little in royalties despite large airplay saying the number of artists increase annually while the market does not.
“We have new artists every day and the money being paid out is coming from advertisers which are stagnant which doesn't really help.
“Some artist claim not to have been paid over the years but this is not true at all.
“The money is not a lot and some just don't see it, but we do have proof that everyone does get paid,” said Max. He told Namibian Sun that members who have not yet received their royalties should be patient.
“Artists who provided more than one bank account need to confirm with Nascam on which account the royalties should be paid to avoid unnecessary charges when the account is closed and the funds are returned to us,” he said.
June Shimuoshili
According to the CEO, John Max, the holdup is caused by technicalities and the duplication of some artists' names. However, he said they have been working tirelessly to rectify the matter.
“If there is a mistake, the system picks it up and until it is rectified the payments will not go through.
“The corrections have been made on the first batch processed and 55 of 100 members have received their payments.
“The other members will be paid within this week,” Max told Namibian Sun.
The first payments Nascam made were to the longest registered members of Nascam, enlisting between 1992 and 1996, and the last payments will be made to members who joined after that.
In total, Nascam will be making payments to 4 000 local artists to the tune of N$1.6 million and this year, Namibian artists will be getting the bigger chunk of the money.
The highest paid member thus far received N$1 300 and the lowest, N$210. Some of the members who have been paid include Oteya, Jossy Joss, Willem Afrikaner, Muambo Gwaambambi and Peter Auchab.
“Many radio stations pay biannually and some pay N$60 000 per year which is too little to be distributed to more than 4 000 artists. So we let the money accumulate for three years and make payments after the administration costs and international artists royalties are paid,” Max said.
Nascam does have consequences for radio stations who do not pay their dues, including legal avenues.
Max added that some artists complain they get too little in royalties despite large airplay saying the number of artists increase annually while the market does not.
“We have new artists every day and the money being paid out is coming from advertisers which are stagnant which doesn't really help.
“Some artist claim not to have been paid over the years but this is not true at all.
“The money is not a lot and some just don't see it, but we do have proof that everyone does get paid,” said Max. He told Namibian Sun that members who have not yet received their royalties should be patient.
“Artists who provided more than one bank account need to confirm with Nascam on which account the royalties should be paid to avoid unnecessary charges when the account is closed and the funds are returned to us,” he said.
June Shimuoshili
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