Copyright Society of Malawi (Cosoma) has disbursed a total of K505 million in blank media levy royalties to artists.
A statement from the copyright body says a total of K279 million has been distributed to musicians whose works were reproduced last year.
Cosoma further says that 54 musicians whose works earned them royalties in excess of K1 million were presented with certificates of recognition yesterday in Lilongwe.
On the other hand, Cosoma is also expected to disburse blank media levy royalties amounting to K139 million to literary authors/publishers and K87 million to film producers.
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Cosoma Executive Director Dora Makwinja said the blank media levy is there to compensate loss of income as a result of unauthorised production of copyright works including books, films and music.
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“It is very important as you know, in the digital environment, that it is very difficult for one to police the distribution of their own works or the production of their own copyright works,” Makwinja said.
She said they started with K119 million but today they are disbursing over K500 million.
“We are making strides and improving. We have a system which is fed with data which we collect,” Makwinja said.
With some quarters questioning the distribution system, Makwinja said there will always be complaints but was quick to say that distribution does not relate to perception “but it relates to how the work has been used and how the work has been produced”.
