MTN denies owing money for outstanding royalties

MTN has denied it owes money for outstanding royalties.

In a statement released yesterday the company has disputed a claim by the Composers, Authors and Publishers Association that the giant cellular network owes about R1 million for the year 2014.

The cellphone service's Larry Annetts said the company had noted the claim that they had failed to pay music copyright royalties to songwriters since 2013.

"The allegation is devoid of all truth. We pride ourselves at being at the forefront of music development in South Africa and across the continent," said Annetts.

He said the company had been working with the National Organisation for Reproduction Rights in Music, the predecessor of the association, and even settled outstanding royalties late in 2014.

"The association sent us an invoice for royalties that contained duplicate claims. We asked them to submit a revised and correct invoice in respect of invoices payable. To date the invoice has not been sent," Annetts said.

However, the association's CEO Nothando Migogo has denied Annett's wrong invoice claim.

She said: "The statement we sent out is true. MTN is disputing the rate at which music services is charged. They are in arrears and need to fix things with us."

Daily Sun contacted some artists and companies that are represented by the association. Thabiso Khathi is the CEO of CashTime Life, which houses K.O, Ma-E, Maggz and Nomuzi.

He said: "We spend a lot of money creating songs and we expect that whoever owes us money should come to the party."

Award-winning entertainer and owner of Linga Entertainment Dr Malinga said: "I was not happy with the royalty cheques I received, especially when you know your song was played all over."