Musician Nonini has joined the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers following his recent surprising move of terminating his membership with the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK).
The singer shared an official letter from the American society approving his membership a day after he aired his disappointment with MCSK in the collection of artists’ revenue in Kenya.
He went on to write a letter to MCSK opting out, accusing them of mismanagement.
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results,” he said.
“The human society is the extension of the individual. If we really want a radical change in anything, if we want a better world, better leadership and better structures, we need to change the things that are not working by understanding you have the power individually.”
ASCAP is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members’ musical works to venues, broadcasters, and digital streaming services.
As an ASCAP member, you get an exclusive package of benefits that range from marketing, insurance cover on instruments, and education among others.
As of the close of 2020, ASCAP represented some 790,000 songwriters. Becoming a member costs $100.
Nonini’s termination is a result of the recent copyright tuff between Sauti Sol and Azimio Coalition after Raila Odinga used the band’s song in their campaign.
Nonini’s move has been applauded by fellow artists as many vowed to follow suit.
