Increase in copyright royalty must consider interests of all parties - Jailani

The proposed annual increase in music authors' copyright royalty must take into consideration the interests of all parties, including the government's current finance, said Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister, Datuk Jailani Johari.

He said the ministry was still reviewing the proposal forwarded by Music Authors’ Copyright Protection (MACP) on the matter, and hoped the final decision would benefit all parties.

"God willing, the decision to be made in collaboration with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) would be a win-win situation for all parties, that is the government, MACP and composers," he said at a MACP get-together here, Sunday night.

Jailani added that MACP and other similar bodies played an important role in ensuring that songwriters were compensated accordingly.

"The government takes a serious view on this matter and has developed policies in efforts to elevate the local music industry," he said.

Meanwhile, MACP chairperson, Habsah Hassan in her speech urged the government to continue its support for the local music industry by making it a policy for all radio and television stations to give priority to local songs.

She said the government should determine the ratio of local to foreign songs aired over local radio and television stations.

"By making this priority, promoting and airing local songs, more royalties can be channeled to our local composers and at the same time, our money will not flow out of the country," she said.

At the event, singer Amir Jahari received the Promising Young Composer Award, recording company Luncai Emas Sdn Bhd received the Top Local Publishers Award while Syarikat Universal Music Publishing Sdn Bhd won the Top Publisher Award.

The MACP Award is in recognition of artistes who have contributed towards the development of the national creative industry.