The feud is again heating up between Malian musicians and the mobile network operator Orange. Once more, the Union of Associations of artists, producers and publishers of Mali are demanding payment of royalties for music used as ringtones or call waiting music from the telecom company.

Three years ago, Malian musicians and producers had claimed from mobile telephone operators the sum of FCfa 500 per chip and per year to compensate for the loss in earnings due to “piracy” that they suffer from. They estimate, based on their calculation that they are entitled to receive over FCfa 6 billion per year from Orange, current leading operator on the market with a subscriber base of 8 million clients. But the telecom company has always refused to grant their claim. A tug of war has since ensued.

For the Malian musicians and publishers, dropping the fight for the recognition of their rights is out of question, even if that means going to court. “We have our means which we will make known in good time but it appears that Orange has already started a propaganda campaign to try and put our artists at odds. Proof of this, some artists had distanced themselves from the movement. But today others have understood and joined us to fight together”, explained Salif Kéita, president of the Union of Associations of artists, producers and publishers of Mali.