TARRUS RILEY TOPS ROYALTY EARNINGS FOR 2015
Singer Tarrus Riley was the top earner for 2015, according to the Jamaica Association of Composers Authors and Publishers (JACAP). The member-owned, not-for-profit organisation made up of music creators (composers and authors) and publishers is responsible for collecting fees and distributing royalties and all other monies to its members.
Based on their collections for the year 2015, Mr Singy Singy came out on top.
The announcement was made at the 2016 Open Mic Forum put on by JACAP under the theme ‘Understanding the Rights and Benefits of Copyright’.
CREATIVE MINDS
General manager of the organisation, Lydia Rose, explained that JACAP collected the monies on behalf of its members, and she is encouraging more creative minds across the island to join organisations such as JACAP. She added that for the year 2015, the top earners received as much $6 million. “From all the permits and licence fees that we collected, as well as royalties that came from abroad, he (Tarrus Riley) came out on top,” she said.
“It is important for creative persons to join these organisations because we play a huge part in helping them earn from their works.”
As of December 2015, JACAP distributed in excess of $320 million to music creators both locally and overseas.
While praising JACAP for the work that it does in helping to collect royalties for entertainers, musicians, composers, and other creative minds, Rose pointed out that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.
“Each entity, promoter or parties, whatever it is, once you are playing copyright music, you are supposed to apply for a permit from JACAP, and pay to use that music as per the law,” she said, noting that copyright infringement can result in fines or imprisonment.
Rose also said that as the exclusive owners of the music, creators reserve the right to walk into any event where the music is being played, accompanied by a police officer, to stop event promoters from using their music.