MBABANE: Manqoba Khumalo, the Minister of Commerce,Industry and Trade has on Wednesday launched a Copyright Society and it’s Board.
The Minister said the Board which would be chaired by Creative Director Samkeliso Nxumalo would determine payable copyright rates and tariffs and ensure that royalties were paid to artists .
“The Copyright Society Board has been created to look into the economic exploitation and commercialisation of the rights of creators of copyright content.The Board has a duty towards the interest of copyright creators,” he said
Reached for comments, Sihle 'McKomzer' Fakudze, an Afro Pop artist said this was a step in the right direction as Swazi artists had been robbed off their royalties for a long time.
“This is a step in the right direction. Swazi artists have been for a long time robbed off their well deserved royalties.We were happy for merely having our music played on radio stations but not receiving any compensation for our hardwork.This will also in my opinion, encourage most Swazis to deliver world standard music which will in turn grow the entertainment industry in the country,” he said
Minister of Commerce Mancoba Khumalo launches Copyright Society Board.