Kenya: New KAMP boss wants to integrate CMOs

“We are pleased to have someone with the right skills, industry knowledge and deep understanding of the company from within the board to assume the crucial role of chairman,” KAMP CEO Clifford Mabele Wefwafwa said.

“Mr Japheth Kasanga is an experienced leader with a proven record of accomplishments in the music and creative industry and I wish him and the rest of the board all the best for the future.”

Wefwafwa said Kasanga would spearhead the organisation's integration process of collective management organisations (CMOs) to collect royalties as one body.

Kasanga told Music In Africa that he was excited and enthusiastic to make sure that Kenya’s CMOs came together to collect royalties for rights holders.

“I have been a board member and founding director at KAMP since its inception in 2003 until recently when my fellow board members decided to give me the mantle pending the expiry of our term as board members later this year,” Kasanga said.

“My biggest agenda is to take up the process of joint collection with other CMOs to ensure that every rights holder gets their fair dues.”

Kasanga, who is a veteran gospel musician, producer and publisher, said most of KAMP’s members were artists doubling up as producers who were fully financing their projects, which earned them ownership rights.

“In the early days most music was owned by producers who were responsible for paying artists, backup singers, instrumentalist and any other additional recording personnel, packaging and promoting the songs,” he said.

Kasanga said that for the past 15 years musicians had taken up the role of producers and promoters of their own music since most dedicated producers had stopped investing in music as a result of piracy and lack of airplay.