Bien Aime Baraza of Sauti Sol band has insisted that Azimio la Umoja campaign team used their song without permission and they have to pay them.
Azimio used the band’s song Extravaganza while unveiling Martha Karua as Raila Odinga’s running mate and that did not sit well with the band.
Speaking to Ankali Ray of Milele FM, Bien said that the team broke the law while making it clear that he does not support any political affiliation.
“I am in business and whoever wants to use my music for his own benefit, first all I have to agree with and secondly we have to be remunerated accordingly. The money that we get should sustain the business. In that case we were not asked and they went ahead and used the song as they wished, I think that is breaking the law, I don’t think a politician can go to a shop to take bread and milk and leave[without paying].
“We have no problems with anyone, I am not supporting any political party. We know the work of artists is to unite people, politics’ job is to break people,” Bien said in the phone interview.
The artists said that they are insisting on compensation because art is a serious work and they have bills to pay.
“At the end of the month, Baba won’t pay my rent, electricity and water, he won’t pay my 50 employees. Kenyans should understand artists are people doing serious work so you can’t use art the way you want,” Bien said.
He also noted that their legal team will decide the amount of money they should be compensated with and said Azimio has caused them a reputation damage.
“I would like it to be even 1 billion because there is a reputational damage when you say that Sauti sol are with Azimio you lose all the fans who are on the other sides so I lose money. I can have a show and only Azimio people come. I can also have a show and DP people come saying we insulted their party, so there is a big reputational damage,” Bien said.
The complaint against Azimio saw Sauti Sol lose thousands of subscribers from their YouTube channel. So far they have 903,000 followers from the initial 905,000.
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