FoSMIS in Q1 2009

The agenda of FoSMIS is to organise and manage the development of the music industry in Sierra Leone in partnership with other stakeholders. Our immediate focus is championing the anti-piracy campaign.

FoSMIS aims to help create the legal foundation and enabling environment upon which the music industry will flourish.

FoSMIS has the official mandate of the Office of the President and we work closely with the Attitudinal Change Unit in close collaboration with its incumbent Director.

FoSMIS will work towards the following goals:

1. Having already been presented to the President, we will now pursue the promotion of the mandate of FoSMIS and the Interim Executive to the public

2. Creation of a Desk that will act as an intermediary between entertainment industry practitioners and all arms of the State, on matters of daily administration of the industry as opposed to policy related issues, for which existing arms of government are already positioned to administer and oversee.

3. Lobby for the swift ratification of the new anti-piracy laws

4. Develop and adopt an effective system of authenticating music products in the marketplace

5. Commissioning of an Anti-Piracy Unit mandated to enforce the existing laws and systems at points of entry and exit, and within the territory of Sierra Leone

6. Educate public facing anti-piracy law enforcers on the system of validation in the marketplace. The benefits of any effective system include; quantification of sales volumes and royalty and tax revenues generated directly from the distribution of music related products, such as cassettes and CDs

7. Create national public awareness about the effects of piracy to change attitudes relating to handling pirated goods

8. Champion the accreditation of industry professionals

9. Offer advice to accredited music industry professionals

10. Promotion of the FoSMIS Music Awards

11. Discuss fundraising initiatives for investment into the music industry