Kuala Lumpur on 22 February 2012, to meet with all the recording performers, and together everyone spoke in “one voice” in their determination to have transparency and fairness in the collection and distribution of royalties amongst the performers through the formation of Recording Performers Malaysia Berhad (“RPM”).

One of the main purposes of setting up RPM, a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Act 1965, is to carry out the functions of a licensing body within the interpretation of Section 3 of the Copyright Act 1987, to collectively administer the issuance of licences and distribution of royalties in respect of equitable remuneration rights granted for the commercial use of recorded performances of performers pursuant to Section 16B of the Copyright Act 1987 and any relevant amendments of this Act in future.

RPM is formed with the main objective to protect all its members. When an artiste and/or a session musician is registered as a member of RPM, any tracks that she/he has performed on are broadcasted on air or played publicly, RPM will ensure he/she will be receiving any/all royalties that may be due to them.

RPM’s Board of Directors stressed that RPM placed strong emphasis on democratic representation and transparent operations as there were numerous complaints and issues raised by recording performers in these areas in the past. The Board strongly believes and agrees that no one can better represent the performers other than the performers themselves.

Dato’ Sheila Majid added “The RPM slogan, “Performers for Performers”, was inspired after years of unhappiness on the distribution of performer royalties and it is time that we, as performers decide and represent ourselves in the betterment of our own future.”

Dato’ Sheila Majid further clarified between the functionality of Public Performance Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (“PPM”) and Music Authors’ Copyright Protection (MACP) Berhad, both, being collective management organisations, however, to carry out collections done for different rights holders.

Dato’ Sheila Majid assured all the performers that the pending distribution for periods prior to 1 January 2012 will not affect any transactions thereafter. She also confirmed that PPM had been appointed as RPM’s exclusive collection agent with effect from 1 January 2012 onwards.

The RPM Board further urged all their fellow performers not to be misled by any confusing statements and should channel any queries to RPM for further clarification. Any recording performer whom signs up as a member of RPM will enjoy the protection of RPM and fairness in all distribution of royalties will be assured for all its members. Therefore, any hesitation by any recording performers in signing up of membership with RPM may cause delays, disruption and/or losses in their royalties due to them from 1 January 2012 onwards.

In the RPM Chairperson’s wake up call to all recording performers, she said, “RPM is a new beginning for all of us. Let us set an example to all our other fellow performers and move forward together in support of each other. Join us in fighting for our rightful representation from now on and with the full commitment extended by Recording Industry Association of Malaysia (RIM), PPM and MACP to RPM, we, as members of RPM can all expect a brighter future and better income from this day on. She added that an official launch of RPM is in the pipeline and a date will be announced in due course.

-Recording Performers Berhad (RPM)