A fierce battle has broken out for the control of an estimated Sh6 billion expected to be raised through the new music levy annually. The fight for the Blank Tape/Media Levy pits collective management organisations (CMOs) against the Kenya Copyright Board (Kecobo). The Blank Tape is a nominal fee imposed on the sale of blank media devices such as USB drives, recording kits and smartphones. “Kecobo is aware that under a previous agreement, an agent would be required for the payment gateway of Blank Tape Levy. In arriving at its ratio Kecobo proposes 20 per cent of the Blank Tape Levy remitted to the regulator to go towards administration, advocacy and enforcement.

Source: Daily Nation September 30, 2023 10:17 UTC