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Allan Foti, Sunday Life Correspondent
A LOCAL video sales and rental outlet has targeted music distribution and has already signed 11 artistes who are signed to top music label, Sabela Music and independent gospel artistes.
Video Easy has formally announced the establishment of its music distribution division under the direct management company director, Bobbo Muronzwa.
Some of the artistes already signed to the new distribution label are popular Bulawayo artistes Mzoe 7, Afro-pop musician Khuliyo, gospel diva Lorraine Maplanka-Stot and RnB sensation Ashleigh Love.
They are part of the first group of signed artistes who number 10 at the moment.
Joining an industry plagued by piracy which has eroded artistes’ royalty from album sales, Video Easy is looking at offering artistes and record labels flexible deals structuring and ownership of their masters.
“I know that most artistes and record labels never concluded distribution deals that they loved,” says Muronzwa.
“I also understand how piracy has eroded their potential income from album sales and that at the moment it is difficult to contain piracy.
However, that doesn’t mean we should not be making an effort to distribute our artistes’ music. We need to try and help them sell their music to a market that obviously wants to listen to them as evidenced by the booming piracy market,” Muronzwa said.
He said his company’s aim was to fill the gap left by top music retailers and record bars such as Spinalong that operated in the early to late nineties before going bust due to the devastating effects of piracy.
Muronzwa also revealed that his company was focused on signing more artistes and applauded Sabela Music for having faith in his vision.
“We intend on signing more artistes and record labels to distribution deals and encourage everyone out there to work with us. I am particularly honoured that Simon Mambazo Phiri and Sabela Music decided to give me the opportunity to fulfil my vision by signing several of their artistes with Video Easy,” Muronzwa continued.
“We are focused on breaking new acts and moving into the future of what fair artiste distribution deals should look like.”
Among the other acts that have signed with Video Easy are De Lukes, Hwabaraty, Kontrol Tribe Tatenda Tanyanyiwa and T1nda (pronounced T-Wonder.
Muronzwa added that his company preferred to work with record labels instead of individual artistes to do away with the risk of individuals demanding their royalties before they are due. -@AllanFoti.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter