The Chief Executive Officer of the Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music, NASCAM, Albert Nicanor, has issued a warning against broadcasters that fail to pay their royalties.
The society is currently working on renegotiating standardized licenses for all broadcasters.
Nicanor stressed that the issue of noncompliance will be addressed once the agreements are signed.
The agreements will outline the actions to be taken, along with measures already in place to handle noncompliance.
During a media briefing, NASCAM also announced an increase in the royalty distribution for 2023, raising the total amount to two comma three million dollars, up from last year’s two million dollars.
He further expressed concerns about royalty distribution, urging members to update their bank account details and provide SIM card confirmations, especially from MTC, to prevent delays.
The society noted that many members have inactive or closed bank accounts, which could affect the prompt distribution of royalties.
“These are creators; generally, they earn sporadically, not like a monthly salary. It is important for them to keep their bank accounts active for 12 months, so if for three months their bank accounts are inactive, that account closes. That is the biggest challenge because we rely on information from the members. If we don’t have information, we spend a lot of time trying to trace them. Some are in rural areas with no network; it’s a very difficult situation. But with that, we also have a new system which we have partnered with MTC. The good thing is we will be able to make bulk payments through their user numbers or SIM cards, relieving us of the challenge, but will require us to confirm with MTC if these are the rightful owners.”
The society also signed two Memoranda of Understanding with the Business and Intellectual Property Authority and the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade to strengthen efforts to protect and promote the rights of Namibian creators.
NASCAM has introduced the WIPO Connect system, developed by the World Intellectual Property Organisation, to streamline rights management and improve efficiency.
This system is expected to save the organization 100 thousand dollars annually in licensing fees, allowing better support for members.
The board has approved new rates and tariffs in line with industry standards to ensure fair compensation for creators.