The Sri Lanka Music Creators and Publishers Association has suspended the proposed licensing scheme to collect royalties for music used at private parties, concerts and weddings until its general meeting in November.
Speaking at a media briefing, Association President Nilar N. Cassim said unfounded allegations had circulated over the Gazette outlining the scheme. He stressed that the proposed payments were royalties for creators, rather than a tax collected by the Government.
He said the royalties collected would be distributed among the Association’s members.
Association Chief Executive Officer Ranga Dassanayake said implementation had been put on hold pending the November general meeting.
Under the proposed scheme, the person hosting an event would be responsible for obtaining the relevant licence and paying royalties for the music used, he said. Dassanayake added that similar arrangements operated in other countries.
Veteran singer and Association board member Rookantha Goonatillake said the initiative sought to protect the rights of lyricists and composers, whose contributions often received less attention than those of singers.
“People mostly talk about the singer. Very little is said about the lyricist or composer. If they have no other income, these royalties may be all they receive,” he said.
Goonatillake urged the public to appreciate those who created songs, saying creators should receive payment when their work was performed on concert stages.
“Every song has an owner,” he said, adding that a singer could not give unrestricted permission for others to perform a song they had not written.
