Renowned Kenyan producer Mavo on the Beat, known for successes including 'Kalale' by Willis Raburu and 'Siskii' by Mejja, has lately provided insightful economic advice for prospective producers navigating the complex world of music production rights.
Mavo emphasizes that although artists may take the spotlight, the true ownership of the beats lies with the producers. In the glitzy yet fiercely competitive realm of music, where the limelight frequently focuses on the artists, it's crucial not to overlook the often unsung heroes working behind the scenes.
Mavo on the Beat has not only established a unique position for himself with his infectious beats but also demonstrated a keen understanding of the music business.
In a video posted on his Instagram, Mavo emphasized the significance of grasping the distinction between song ownership and beat ownership.
"If you are a producer, if you produce for an artist, if you create the beat, the rights to the beat remain with the producer. Msanii akikulipa pesa, it doesn't mean they own the beat; they own the song, but the rights to the beat remain yours," he explained.
Delving further into the economics of music production, Mavo disclosed his pricing strategy for mastered stems, which are the high-quality, finalized versions of audio recordings.
"Artists can buy the master stems, which would cost much higher, saying I charge between $1000-1500 (Sh208,000) for my mastered stems," Mavo stated, highlighting the value attributed to the polished, final product ready for consumption.
But Mavo doesn't stop there. He's a firm advocate for producers protecting their work through patents and copyrights. "Patent your beat or copyright it," he advises, stressing the importance of proper paperwork.
"Patent your beat or copyright it. Make sure you do your paperwork. Have split sheets, for example, if you come in to work with me, expect split sheets, 50 per cent publishing rights by my publishing company, and 4 per cent royalties. Don't let these artists use you," he advised, underlining the significance of legal safeguards in protecting a producer's intellectual property.
