Atilia Haron Defends Musicians' Livelihoods Amidst Late Payment Culture

PETALING JAYA – Local singer Atilia Haron has voiced her disappointment with the persistent issue of late payments to musicians within the Malaysian entertainment industry. In a recent social media post, Haron, 52, emphasized the unfairness of the situation, particularly for club performers and sound technicians who diligently fulfill their duties.

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I will divide the payments fairly to the musicians and sound technicians who come for rehearsals, do sound checks with around twenty songs played and do a full performance every night.

"I always prioritize payments for musicians and sound technicians for club performances. I ensure fair distribution of payments for those who attend rehearsals, conduct sound checks playing around twenty songs, and perform a full set every night," she stated, highlighting her own commitment to timely compensation.

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Imagine having to wait a month for RM400 after working all night.

Haron lamented that musicians are often forced to wait as long as a month to receive meager sums, sometimes as low as RM400, after working through the night. This practice, she noted, effectively turns musicians into unpaid lenders to club owners. "Passion alone isn't enough if payments are continuously deferred," she asserted.

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Passion alone isn't enough if payments are continuously deferred.

The singer stressed the importance of valuing the talent and professionalism of musicians, arguing that exposure alone does not sustain artistic careers and that professionalism should not be treated as a hobby with delayed payment. She called on club owners to recognize the significant contributions of these artists and ensure they are compensated fairly and promptly.

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Talent doesn't live on exposure alone and professionalism isn't a hobby that gets paid late.