Cover band singers have expressed their frustrations about Uganda Performing Right Society (UPRS)’s new directive to have them pay for licenses for singing other artists’ songs.
Jonah a member of the popular cover band Yeffe Band revealed how the country’s current economic status has forced them to lean on their talents for survival; they end up doing cover songs due to failure to secure jobs and he feels it is unfair to make them pay without considering the challenges they go through to earn a living through it.
“The problems that come with job hunting and lack of experience in the corporate world have pushed many youths to feed off their talents. What they are doing is right but I believe it would be more proper if they just didn’t push out a directive but get on the ground and know the challenges we face. Unless they bring out the copyright law and are willing to support us all, it is okay,” he said.
Timo who performs Reggae Music under Double Trouble Revolution Band revealed that the new directive left them with no option but to do music from other countries and avoid being charged for covering Ugandan music.
Martin Nkoyoyo, commonly known by his stage name Yoyo who acts as the board chairman revealed that bands that specialize in doing covers will start paying for these licenses which will be charged depending on how many times they perform in a week and will be billed in percentages.
“We looked at the bands with just one gig a month and considered we would not give them the same rate as these ones who perform occasionally. The person who pays the least will be paying Shs. 250K and it is only paid once a year,” Yoyo said.
Yoyo recalled back in the day, bars held celebrity nights where musicians would perform and earn some money. These, however, have been replaced with band nights and it was only right for UPRS to start collecting royalties and give them to the artists behind the songs they do.
@galaxytvug Bands resonds to UPRS ban on unlicensed bands. #JikonkoneRewind♬ original sound – Galaxy TV Jikonkone