Kenya: KAMP changes name to KAMP Copyright and Related Rights Limited

The name change was approved during the organisation’s 16th annual general meeting (AGM) held on 2 October.

Other key resolutions passed during the AGM include:

• Amending definition of ‘member’ to reflect the latest updates in the company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association adopted on 5 April 2024.
• New membership registration rollout, starting with performers on 16 October.
• Distribution framework for performers, ensuring that funds collected on behalf of performers will be distributed at a 50:50 rate in comparison to producers of sound recordings.
• Appointment of new auditors Grant and Thornton.

Speaking during the AGM, KAMP chairperson Angela Ndambuki said: “This is indeed a monumental step in the right direction in ensuring copyright and related rights are duly administered to uphold transparency, accountability and good governance, which have been the raison d'être of KAMP’s existence as a producer collective management organisation (CMO). The overwhelming support of our members and their push to have KAMP administer all rights is a testament to the confidence the industry has in KAMP, the first CMO in Kenya to distribute royalties of more than 60% of its collections.”

Ndambuki added that the CMO would continue to engage with the industry regulator in search of a long-term licence. “The CMOs have unfortunately been faced with hard stances, unfair dealings, and deceit brought about by individuals pushing for selfish gains. We continue to raise our concerns when injustices are committed. We have knocked on the corridors of justice to put our cases forward, and we have, not once but several times, emerged victorious in our quest to advocate for your rights as our members.”

“We are responding to the clarion call by many rights holders in the creative sector who have wanted better and more personalised representation that KAMP offers,” KAMP CEO Maurice Okoth said. This was more pressing within the performers' sector in the creative industry, which is why we are excited to immediately roll out registration of performers within KAMP.”

According to the KAMP leadership, the CMO increased collections in the first quarter of 2024 compared to previous years, having distributed Ksh7.1m ($5 500), representing 61.59% of the CMO’s income. However, the association registered a dip in collections between the months of April and July, attributed to the negative impact brought about by the delayed award of the operating licence as well as court cases.

In the past year, KAMP reported that it has signed MoUs with external collective management societies such as the South African Music Performance Rights Association to educate them about the maximisation of royalties through scientific distribution. It also reported that it has enhanced collections from broadcasting houses, with several cases having been filed at the small claims court affecting five media houses, with the CMO winning two suits against two radio stations.