Nascam, police clamp down on DJs breaking copyright law

In a dramatic turn of events, the Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music (Nascam) has embarked on a rigorous campaign to clamp down on copyright violations within the entertainment industry.

The operation involves the enforcement of public performance music licences for DJs performing at clubs and concerts.

Herbert Faron Wantenaar, Nascam's regional copyright officer and Namibian copyright consultant, confirmed the campaign in an exclusive interview with Namibian Sun.

Elaborating on the alliance between Nascam and law enforcement officials, Wantenaar revealed that they were collaborating closely with the Namibian Police to uphold copyright laws.

"We are the guardians of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Protection Act," he said.

Nascam has been in existence for over two decades, he noted, and during this time, the institution has been running extensive awareness campaigns through various media outlets.

The society has on several occasions made it clear that any public venue transmitting audible music to the masses must possess a valid music licence. This mandate, Wantenaar emphasised, extends to DJs as well.

DJs who do not comply with the licence requirement could face public embarrassment, hefty fines and/or prison time, and may see their equipment confiscated, he revealed to tjil yesterday.

Get your licence

The process for obtaining the coveted licence entails engagement with licence inspectors at Nascam offices. Wantenaar detailed the procedure, emphasising that inspectors provide DJs with the requisite forms.

There is also a financial commitment involved – a fee of N$1 500 accompanies each application, while licences have to be renewed every 12 months.

“Nascam and the Namibian Police will not tolerate it that DJs continue breaking the copyright law of Namibia," Wantenaar said.

"Nascam, custom officials as well as the police will also focus on foreign artists and DJs coming to perform in Namibia without applying for a proper public performance music licence and permission, which they need to take to home affairs to apply for a work visa,” he said.

Victims of the law

DJ Kiki, a prominent figure on the Namibian DJ circuit, recounted her run-ins with Nascam officials and the police.

She narrated a particularly tense encounter at Trinity Lounge last year, where officials threatened to curtail her performance. At the time, they didn’t fine her, but cautioned her to get a licence, she said.

This week, she told Namibian Sun that her most recent run-in with happened just last weekend at The Loft.

"I have a theory that this institution's financial records are experiencing turmoil, and this crackdown is their way of offsetting the balance. I've been part of this industry for six years, and not a single meeting has been convened for us," she lamented.

Meanwhile, media personality Shona Ngava said Nascam’s campaign is nothing new.

“They have been talking about doing that for the past three years. The DJs are angry at the wrong institution. In the meetings, Namibian musicians called for Nascam to compel DJs to pay. The reason was they do not get bookings any more because local DJs play their songs at events and other functions and get bookings instead of the artists whose music is being played.

"They also complained that DJs play foreigners' tunes and not theirs, and said DJs should be charged for that.

"Nascam is basically doing what its stakeholders asked it to do,” he said.