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{
    "id": 1144401,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1144401/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 359,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Gladys Wanga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Apart from the creation of the national registry, this Bill goes ahead to deal with the issue of skiza tunes. We made amendments to the Finance Bill, now the Finance Act, and artists benefited from that amendment. We have now brought the question of sharing of revenue not just for skiza tunes but for any ring back tunes. We have now brought it into the Copyright Act. What we are saying is this: The principal Act is amended by inserting a new section immediately after Section 30(b) “Without prejudice to Section 30(b), in the case of ring back tunes, the parties shall share the net revenue from the sale of the ring back tunes as follows: (a) the premium rate service provider at 7 per cent. (b) The telecommunication operator at 16 per cent. (c) The artist or the copyright holder at 52 per cent.” The reason for it lies in the question: why does anybody put a ring back tune? Is it because you like the service provider? The reason we put our ring back tunes is that a particular artist is appealing to us and therefore we would like people to listen to that song when they call us. We are of a strong belief that the person who should earn the most from a ring back tune is the artist. The current situation is such that the artist is put at a lower rate than the service provider. This Bill has been put out there in the newspapers for feedback to be brought by the public. I want to stress that the principle of public participation is key. There are people I have read in newspaper articles saying that they do not agree with certain sections of this Bill. What we would like to say is that this is an open House and we conduct public participation as is required. So any views that are taken and processed by the Committee will be executed here during the Third Reading and if there are any amendments that need to be taken so that the Bill carries along everybody, that is going to be done during the Committee Stage of the Bill. There are those who keep saying out there that they want to support those who are very low in the society. They walk everywhere saying so, but right now if you look inside this Chamber they are not present! At this time, when the most important amendment is being made that can actually bring up the artists who sing for them in rallies, they are not here. So people must get serious. We should not pay lip service to the people we represent. We must be here when it matters the most. That is when it can be said that we are not paying lip service but entrenching in legislation what is likely to change the lives of our people. In this regard, I would like to thank His Excellency the President because he has stepped out there and gone out of his way to ensure that our artists have a better life. So has the Right Honourable Raila Amolo Odinga. He has gone out of his way to make sure that he pushes this agenda. I thank the one person who has brought artists together so that their welfare can be looked at. I am talking about the chairman of the Royal Media Services, S. K. Macharia. These things must be said in open light because, as a country, a time has come for us to tell each other the truth. We cannot have a platform such as the Floor of this House and not use it and instead go to rallies to pay lip service to our constituents. If you really believe in something… In fact, there are legislators who have been elected to this House on the platform of artists. They are not here present to talk for those very artists they are supposed to represent here. They would rather be distributing wheelbarrows on the street! The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}