Times Of Swaziland: MUSIC TARIFFS TO BE PUBLISHED SOON

MUSIC TARIFFS TO BE PUBLISHED SOON
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Mxolisi Dlamini on 25/10/2024 08:59:00


MBABANE - Eswatini Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Society (ESWACOS) Executive
Director Mmeli Hlanze says they will be publishing music tariffs soon.
According to Hlanze, the tariffs will be used for licensing various users of
music, and this isn’t limited to users of local music but all
copyright-protected music, whether local or international. This comes after the
Eswatini Events Managers and Promoters Association (EEMPA) accelerated their
call for promoters to get licences for their shows. “We will be publishing the
music tariffs soon. The mandate granted to ESWACOS through the Copyright and
Neighbouring Rights Act 4/2018 empowers us to protect all rights holders,
whether local or international.
Engaging
“Before the end of the year, we will be engaging with various users and their
representative associations to share more information about music licence
tariffs and procedures,” Hlanze said. Hlanze further confirmed that DJs and
event organisers need to have music licences to enable them to play music during
their events. “Yes, it is true that DJs and event organisers will need to
procure a music licence from ESWACOS to legally play music at their events. This
requirement applies to various individuals and entities involved in public
performances of music,” he said.
Finalising
EEMPA Secretary Banele Dlamini says they are now finalising their plans, citing
event promoters have been given enough time to get licences. “For every event
that they plan to have, it should be applied for on ENCAC. “They then have to
tell us when they have applied so we can go and verify it. Verifying the event
will help us see if the venue that is proposed is safe and if all the artists
that are invited are legalised.
“This is because there are a lot of events that are being introduced and we do
not know where they come from.  “We appeal to all event organisers to register
their events because there will now be fines for those who host events without
licences. The event’s organisers have been given enough time to look at this
matter,” Dlamini said.