Online Reporter
Trust Khosa, Zimpapers-Arts and Entertainment Hub
The Association of Music Promoters Zimbabwe has emphasised that professionalism is essential for the growth and development of the creative community.
AMPZ has vowed to strengthen its efforts in promoting industry standards.
This statement follows their recent announcement expressing disappointment towards artistes who, without apology or remorse, have failed to honour their commitments by not appearing at events after receiving part or full payment as agreed.
The trend has been going on for years, leaving promoters counting their losses, which is grossly unfair to the industry.
“I stand by the press statement we issued, expressing our opposition to this practice, but we will refrain from naming and shaming them for the sake of progress,” stated AMPZ president Josh Hozheri.
Josh Hozheri
“To be honest, I don’t understand why one would fail to attend a show despite being paid their dues. It’s unfair to both the promoter and the fans who pay to watch artistes’ performances.
“To make matters worse, some of these artistes don’t provide valid reasons when they fail to attend these shows.”
The seasoned promoter noted that it is high time musicians take their jobs seriously. “It’s sad to note that we keep reminding each other about our responsibilities.
“We must come to a point where professionalism becomes our guiding principle. Under normal circumstances such artistes should be taken to court but we don’t want to do that for the good of the industry,” he stressed.
He further commented, “We are going to hold a series of workshops to empower our artistes who are still lagging behind in terms of professionalism. We will engage their managers to ensure that we all pull in the same direction.
“There is still room for engagement and re-engagement between musicians’ representatives and promoters.
“Musicians and promoters need each other for the good of the industry, and we cannot afford to let each other down. We should take art as business, and that is why I always urge musicians to respect their jobs and contracts to be taken seriously wherever they go both locally and internationally.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by AMPZ chairman Partson “Chipaz” Chimbodza, who expressed his disappointment with rogue artistes. “The reason we co-authored that statement is that we have been receiving numerous complaints from other promoters who feel short-changed by artistes who fail to attend booked shows. I have also been a victim of these rogue artistes, but we continue to move on. We are simply urging them to respect the contracts they sign. It’s quite unfair for someone to fail to attend shows despite being compensated,” he pointed out.
He added, “We have been calling for professionalism over the years, but it seems that most of these artistes don’t care at all. Some people have pleaded with us to name and shame them, but that is not professional at all. We urge them to respect the promoters and fans who pay to attend their shows.”
Chipaz noted that most artistes who fail to show up for gigs do not offer an apology.
“It’s better for them to notify us in advance if they are not coming or to simply return the performance fees. There is a lot involved when one is organising shows. We invest significantly in marketing, security and staging. I wish these artistes understood how costly and risky it is to put together a show,” he remarked.
He continued, “I have been in this industry for years and have seen it all. I have been short-changed, but I keep moving forward because music promotion can be a huge gamble at times.”
The award-winning promoter has vowed to intensify his efforts in campaigning against rogue artists.
Recent history highlights the ongoing struggle with no-shows, as the late Andy Brown and Soul Jah Love were infamous for their absences despite being compensated.
Currently, Silent Killer has become a significant source of frustration for promoters due to his failure to attend shows, ultimately short-changing both local and international promoters with his behaviour. His actions have not only damaged his brand but also instilled scepticism among promoters regarding future dealings with him.
The ongoing issues with professionalism in the music industry underscore the need for artists to uphold their commitments to promoters and fans.
The AMPZ’s commitment to fostering professionalism through education and engagement is a crucial step forward.
While challenges persist, the collective efforts of promoters and artists alike can lead to a more accountable and vibrant creative community in Zimbabwe.
