KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran musician Aubrey Suwito has urged for the ‘right people’ to be appointed to the proposed special body, which will be set up to regulate the local music industry.
Aubrey said the struggle with royalty payments and wealth distribution were issues which had been plaguing the local music scene for years.
He said the move announced by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was timely.
‘Dr Mahathir is right to say there are ‘crooks’ in the music industry, and they are often the ones who get into positions where there is money to be made’, said the composer, who is also Cranky Music Sdn Bhd director.
‘I hope honest people, with a proven integrity record are appointed as we need to be cautious in selecting the right people for this body, or else it will be ‘more of the same’.
During a townhall session with music industry players on Monday, Dr Mahathir said the government was looking to set up a body like the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) to protect the music scene by solving issues, such as lopsided royalty payments, and to develop the industry.
Meanwhile, the Music Authors Copyright Protection (MACP) Bhd said it supported any effort that would lead to the betterment of the local music industry.
MACP legal manager Justin Johari Azman suggested that the government model the formation of the body after the United States’ Recording Academy, instead of Finas.
‘The US Recording Academy provides a platform that connects theory and practice in the music industry. We need one like that here.’
Justin, a part-time lecturer in Universiti Teknologi Mara’s Faculty of Music, said there was concern for the future of music graduates here.
‘The feedback I’ve been receiving are worrying. Graduates say there are no jobs for them, and they would have to resort to working in different fields, such as banking,’ he said.
This, he said, was why a platform similar to the US Recording Academy could serve as a connecting point for theory and practice.
‘It will prepare them for the real world of the music industry, apart from equipping them with adequate skills, such as music laws, for their own ‘survival’ in the industry,’ he said.
Justin hoped the body would focus on educating industry practitioners of their basic rights.
‘There are veterans who do not understand their basic rights, resulting in them saying their rights have been abused or stolen after their song was released.
‘I hope this body can educate our younger generation and future artistes so that these issues will not recur,’ he said.
Singaporean singer-songwriter Imran Ajmain is hoping for the body to properly manage artistes’ individual care.
The SukaSucre creative director said the government should create more opportunities for local music industry players.
‘Music plays a big part in this and we need more opportunities.’
Imran suggested that the body develop schemes, such as ‘Wajib Tayang’ or ‘Wajib Main Lagu’ across the board, and to also focus on music exports as a way to develop the industry.
He agreed with Dr Mahathir’s suggestions for industry practitioners to diversify their incomes.