#TheWeeklyRoundUp - 13.01.23

Government urged to tackle musicians’ “pitiful” earnings from streaming (NME) Acting DCMS committee chair Damian Green said the "main players" of streaming "need to get together to remedy this in a sustainable way" More should be done by the government to tackle the “pitiful” earnings musicians receive from streaming services, MPs say. Acting DCMS committee chair and Conservative MP Damian Green said that “too many” artists receive “pitiful returns despite making successful music,” adding that the “main players” in the streaming world “need to get together to remedy this in a sustainable way”. Following the publication of a new report titled Economics of music streaming: follow-up, Green said: “The world of music streaming is highly susceptible to changes in digital technology and the Government needs to make sure it is ahead of the game by taking a more strategic role in coordinating policy across departments.”

In response to the new DCMS report, industry figures have once again demanded more action from the government. David Martin, CEO of the Featured Artists Coalition and Annabella Coldrick, Chief Executive of the Music Managers Forum, said in a joint statement: “Having contributed substantially to their initial evidence sessions on music streaming and subsequent IPO dialogue, the FAC and MMF wholeheartedly welcome the DCMS Committee’s renewed calls for reform. In what will be a critical year for British music, it is heartening that artists, songwriters and music makers have such concerted Parliamentary support for improved remuneration and contractual rights. We are also pleased by the Committee’s demand for further scrutiny of recent market reforms around recoupment and their backing for a national music strategy.” “They added: “It is now vital that the wider industry embraces this spirit of reform and takes seriously the work already underway at the IPO. Our organisations are in complete alignment with other creator bodies on the need for greater fairness, transparency and remuneration. These issues are not going away, and neither are we.” The Government described our initial report as a ‘key moment for the music industry’. It now needs to make sure it follows through on the work done so far to fix the fundamental flaws in the market.” The new report follows key figures in the music industry demanding government action on streaming following the publication of a report by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in November. At the start of 2022, the CMA formally launched a new study to examine the music streaming market in which it considered “whether innovation is being stifled and if any firms hold excessive power”.

---

Spirit Motion vs Bongani 'Murdah Bongz' Mohosana: Everything you need to know about the legal battle (channel 24)

Spirit Motion, on behalf of Black Motion, told News24 it pursued legal action against Bongani 'Murdah Bongz' Mohosana as "he took the law into his own hands" when he allegedly took recording studio equipment from their business premises in December 2022. "We live in a country that is governed by laws; nobody has the right to take the law into their hands, and with that happening, it meant that we needed to take legal action because Bongani acted in a manner that is not aligned to the laws of this country," said Spirit Motion. "So, he took the law into his own hands, and we could not allow that. So, with us not allowing that, we had to do exactly what we did – we opened a police case and started the legal proceedings against him." Per court papers, the recording equipment Mohosana took, amounting to R255 600, includes: 1 x PMC TwoTwo studio monitor (Pair) = R75 900.00 1 x Telefunken AR51 tube condenser mic = R32 900.00 1 x Telefunken M60 FET mic (matched pair) = R22 700.00 2 x Mäag Audio EQ4 (500 series) = R31 300.00 2 x Wes Audio Mimas 1176 compressor (500 serious) = R35 100.00 1 x Redco DB25 96pt Bantam patchbay = R12 300.00 1 x NI Komplete 12 Ultimate Collector’s Edition = R27 000.00 1 x Cabling (based on the patchbay, mics and speakers) = R15 000.00 2 x Heavy duty boom mic stand = R3 400.00 Mohosana was given until Friday, 13 January 2023, at 17:00 to return the equipment. In response to Spirit Motion's letter of demand, dated 5 January, Mohosana agreed to return the equipment before the close of business. Mohosana was also accused of "violently" damaging a door at the recording studio, among other properties. It also alleged that it was not the first time he appropriated recording studio equipment, as he had allegedly done it in February 2022 as well. In the same responding letter, Mohosana stated he was a co-director and shareholder of Spirit Motion (Pty) Ltd, which owned the equipment at the business premises. He further said that during his time with Black Motion, he had unfettered access to the premises, enjoyed the usage of the equipment, would remove equipment for music production and live artistic performances and subsequently return it. The future of Black Motion Speaking about what this meant for Black Motion, comprised initially of Mohosana and Thabo 'Smol' Mabogwane, Spirit Motion said it was a movement, and no one had the right to stop it from continuing. "We've got an entity called Spirit Motion, which is a legal entity, and that legal entity owns Black Motion, so no one owns Black Motion but Spirit Motion. Bongani chose to go on a solo career, which we supported," Spirit Motion said. "If you go back onto our social pages, you will see when he released an album, we congratulated him and supported what he did, but he has no right whatsoever to stop the Black Motion movement from continuing. So, that is why Thabo and Problem Child are now pushing the movement." In Spirit Motion's response letter, dated 7 January, it said Mohosana "voluntarily left Black Motion for more than a year now". It added that he allegedly absconded as a director of Spirit Motion (Pty) Ltd as he has been dormant since and has not yet been formally removed from his role. The cracks began to show The cracks in the breakdown of the award-winning duo began to show in April 2022 when speculation swirled that the pair had broken up. However, Spirit Motion quickly poured cold water on the rumours stating that the pair "have not parted ways". In July, the pair took to social media to quash speculation of their split, adding they would be releasing new music soon and that planning for their annual Soshanguve 1st Funday event was underway. The pair also shared a photo and video of themselves in the studio as they worked on new music.