Understanding Copyrights In The Music Industry

Posted by admin on 2024-05-01 07:38:03 |

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HARRISON JEREMIAH 

In the recent months, there was a wave of copyright scandals between creatives within the arts industry particularly the Zimbabwean music scene. 

Social media and mainstream was set ablaze with these scandals, leading to mixed reactions by the netizens on social media platforms on the cyber spaces.

Followers of music witnessed some of the hit music pieces withdrawn from digital stores, especially YouTube and some big names found themselves involved in the copyright scandals. 

According to reports two of Winky D hit tracks, ‘Disappear’ and ‘Mirror,’ both produced by the music label Kenako Music were removed from his YouTube channel. 

The dispute was that  around the production of the songs ‘Disappear’ and ‘Mirror', Mainly ‘Disappear’ which was produced by Oskid, a pivotal figure in Winky D’s production team, before his exit from Kenako Music in 2015 to start his own label, Oskid Productions.

The core of the issue lies in Kenako Music’s claim that it has not received the royalties owed for these songs, despite an agreement that included royalty payments from the songs they produced for Winky D.

Also on the same note The Charambas claimed the copyrights from Zim dance hall chanter Jah Signal over the song Shinga Muroora which had clocked 6 million views on YouTube, it was pulled down from YouTube as well as Tengai Mafuta remix which was originally done by the Charambas on the album 'The Gospel' released in 2007.

In this article the reporter   unfolds a deeper understanding of the copyrights in the music industry and how these rights works for everyone involved in the music business.

The music industry is a vibrant tapestry of creativity, with artists, producers and songwriters working together to create the soundtrack (music piece) of our lives. 

Beneath the surface of this harmonious collaboration lies a complex web of legal rights and protections, copyrights are the backbone of the music industry, ensuring that creators are rewarded for their work and safeguarding their intellectual property.

Copyrights are exclusive legal rights granted to creators of original works, including music compositions, lyrics and sound recordings, these rights give the copyright holder control over how their work is used, distributed, and performed.

In the music industry, copyrights are divided into two main categories, musical compositions, the song itself and sound recordings, the specific recording of a song.

In most cases, the creator of the music owns the copyright, this means that songwriters and composers hold the rights to their musical compositions, while artists and producers own the rights to their sound recordings.

On the other hand individuals should note that the music industry is a collaborative space, and copyrights can be shared among multiple parties, for instance, a songwriter may co-own a composition with their publisher, while a record label may own a portion of the sound recording rights.

Copyrights are crucial in the music industry because they allow creators to profit from their work, by controlling the use and distribution of their music, copyright holders can negotiate licensing agreements, royalties, and other forms of compensation.

Without copyrights, artists and creators would have little incentive to produce new music, and the industry would suffer as a result.

The rise of digital music platforms and streaming services has transformed the music industry, but it has also created new challenges for copyright holders.

 With millions of songs available at our fingertips, it's easier than ever to share, remix, and distribute music without permission, this has led to concerns about copyright infringement, piracy, and fair compensation for creators.

To address these challenges, the music industry has implemented various solutions and best practices and these organizations like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC collect royalties on behalf of copyright holders, while platforms like Spotify and Apple Music have established licensing agreements to ensure fair compensation.

Coming back home there are organizations such as Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) in which artists should register with which enables them to get royalties 

Artists and creators are increasingly using blockchain technology and other tools to manage their rights and track their royalties.

Copyrights are the lifeblood of the music industry, protecting the rights of creators and ensuring that they are rewarded for their work.

 As the industry continues to evolve, it's essential that we prioritize copyright protection, fair compensation, and collaboration.

jeremiahharrison290@gmail.com 

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