Turkish Culture Ministry seizes administration of musical work owners society

The Culture Ministry has appointed a panel of trustees to the Musical Work Owners Society of Turkey (MESAM), ousting the existing management ahead of the organization’s general assembly.

Established to protect the performing rights of music producers in 1986, MESAM has since attracted over 9,000 members including authors, composers, arrangers and publishers.

The ministry dismissed the current board members and tasked seven performers including pro-government singers Yavuz Bingol and Coskun Sabah with running the society until its general assembly. MESAM is expected to elect its new board during its general assembly, set to be held in the next three months.

Last month Turkey’s legendary arabesque singer and pro-government performer Orhan Gencebay resigned as MESAM president, accusing former president Arif Sağ, a bağlama virtuoso, of intimidating him. (turkeypurge.com)

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