MRSB opens membership to all ethnic music artistes
KUCHING: Local artistes who are involved in the ethnic music industry are invited to become members of Music Right Sarawak Bhd (MRSB).
According to Persatuan Armada Anak Seni Sarawak (Aras) chairman Gibson Rentap, the MRSB had submitted its application to become a licensing body to the Music Authors Copyright Protection (MACP), Public Performance Malaysia (PPM) Bhd and Recording Performers of Malaysia (RPM) in December last year.
He said upon its accreditation as a valid licensing body in the ethnic music industry in Sarawak, the members should be able to earn more from their works through the annual royalty payments.
“The scope of royalty collection is only on Sarawakian local ethnic songs such as those in the Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau, Kayan, Kenyah, Lunbawang and Salako languages.
“Should the application be approved, MRSB would become a licensing body that is focused on collecting local ethnic songs in Sarawak,” said Gibson in a joint statement with MRSB managing director Juliet Tan yesterday.
He said Aras had established MRSB on Sept 28 last year, as a separate entity meant to focus on the collection of music royalties and the issuance of licences granting the use of music in public venues especially in Sarawak.
He said Aras had welcomed the move by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) in supporting the establishment of a licensing body responsible for the collection of music royalties in Sarawak and Sabah.
“KPDNHEP Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi had personally voiced out his support for the establishment of such licensing bodies in Sarawak and Sabah during a recent webinar hosted by Wisdom Foundation Sabah,” he added.
The webinar, said Gibson, also involved Music Rights Sabah (MRS) representatives and Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) chairman Datuk Mohamad Alamin.
According to Gibson, the KPDNHEP and the MyIPO had ‘basically given the greenlight for the establishment of such licensing bodies in Sarawak and Sabah’.
“Some matters relating to royalty collection, which may involve existing laws and licensing body’s constitution must resolved first so that the establishment of the new licensing bodies would not bring up any problem the next time,” he pointed out.
To know more, go to the Facebook pages of ‘Persatuan Armada Anak Seni Sarawak’ and ‘Music Right Sarawak Berhad’.
Enquiries could also be submitted to Lewelyn Lawas Julin, via 014-617 5018 during regular office hours.
The scope of royalty collection is only on Sarawakian local ethnic songs such as those in the Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau, Kayan, Kenyah, Lunbawang and Salako languages.
Gibson Rentap