Nascam pays out music royalties

THE Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music (Nascam) has almost finished paying out N$781 675 in royalty fees collected in 2010.

The amount decreased by N$12 000 from the N$800 000 that was collected in the 2009 financial year.Of the total amount collected, 60 per cent went to musicians while NASCAM takes 30 per cent totalling N$390 882. The other 10 per cent goes towards social responsibility programmes.Nascam started making payments on December 19, and according to its chief executive officer, John Max, N$434 021 will go to local artists.Musicians are paid according to the airplay they receive on radio and television. In 2010, they received N$5,93 every time a song was broadcast. Kwaito artist The Dogg received the biggest chunk of the royalty payments for 2010. Makuti Simon from Rundu was the second highest paid, followed by Lazarus Shiimi, known as Gazza.Makuti Simon, stage name B Square, is known for his song ‘Come to me’.Max would not reveal how much each musician received.During 2010, The Dogg, real name Martin Morocky, released his sixth album titled ‘The Power of 7’ while Gazza released ‘Cosa Nostra: Lafamilia’ in December 2009.The latest figures also show South African music’s prominence in Namibia, as Nascam is expected to pay up to N$68 000 to musicians from SA – N$1 000 more than the previous year.Max said one reason why South African musicians received so much was a song titled ‘Thando Iwam’ (Marry me) by house musician Bojo Mojo featuring Tequila.’People loved that song, and besides, some thought it was Namibian,’ he said.NASCAM’s chief said there are various radio stations that are yet to settle their dues, mainly the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation’s (NBC) Oshiwambo Service and the NBC Otjiherero Oviritje playlist.Production houses such as Omalaeti and Welwitschia benefited the most in terms of collecting publishing and composing rights, as the two have a number of musicians under their stables.

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