adminZim music Matrix
Clive Malunga
MUSIC fans are very special in so many ways.
They are a valuable ladder by which artists reach the zenith of success.
Fans’ dissatisfaction can take artists down to the lowest professional depths.
Arrogance, selfishness, self-centeredness and pride has led to the fall of many artists.
A combination of these vices causes them to mismanage the valuable artist-fans relationship.
l RELATIONS
A good artist must maintain healthy relationships with his or her fans.
Artists should avoid drinking beer, smoking or sharing drugs with fans.
Improper relationships discredit artists.
However, artists should get as much information as possible from music fans and use or select what is usable.
Music business is shaped by those who consume it – the music fans.
Therefore, our music must respond to their needs. This means market research is a prerequisite for a successful music career.
Create time to talk to them even if it means engaging one at a time.
Once this is done, musicians are guaranteed life-long support. There is also need to keep open lines of communication. Never switch off your mobile phone because you feel tired of answering calls from your fans.
Be able to handle the pressure.
When you accommodate them, you become one big family.
Your fans will show you the direction of where you should go and what you should do.
Be a good listener and be able to adapt to any given situation An artist is not more important than his/her fans.
When an artist gives fans the honour they rightly deserve, they will return the honour a hundred-fold. Create a fora for interaction with your fan base. Keep fans happy by providing them with regular updates and good music.
In turn, they will make you happier through their financial support.
l HEALTHY
Look healthy when you are on and off stage. You are a role model. Don’t go on stage drunk because your fans will notice and they will judge you.
Strive for good health through a proper diet and avoiding unhealthy living habits such as smoking and taking recreational drugs.
l TEAM WORK
A music group is composed of a number of players.
Therefore, build team spirit and work together as a team to make your fans happy.
Collectively and individually protect the group’s name and guard against the destruction of its brand image.
Every member should be paid fairly for their contribution to the success of the group.
Many band leaders in Zimbabwe are very greedy, selfish, self-centred and, above all, misguided.
Band members must respect each other when they are on and off the stage.
Do something special for your fans.
It could be a free cool drink of your choice, for the first fifty people to enter the concert hall. Show your fans that you also care for them.
Don’t take your fans for granted for they are also human and have feelings and egos to protect. We all venture into showbiz to make money. With showbiz, it’s entertainment first and money comes last.
First delivery and the results will follow.
A musical group must have a mission statement. If you have no destination, every road takes you nowhere.
Clear strategic goals will help you to devise correct tactics that you are going to employ to reach your intended goals.
Learn to say thank you to our Heavenly Father for your achievements.
Pray every day for longer life, protection, guidance and blessings.
Never neglect your spiritual life.
Pray for wisdom.
Know your strengths and acknowledge your weaknesses as a musical band.
Stop copying and pasting.
Stand on your own as a group and be counted. The music industry has gone very low because of copycats.
The music style has become almost the same and, thus, creating monotony.
If artists continue on this path, music fans will stop providing their most-needed support. We can learn from what has happened to our soccer teams.
Supporters are no longer interested.
They prefer overseas teams to local teams because of mediocrity.
l INNOVATION
Be innovative and creative without departing from our identity and Ubuntu.
Urban Grooves music died a natural death in Zimbabwe because it did not resonate with our Zimbabwean values.
The same will happen to Zimdancehall.
It will also die a natural death because it is a genre that has nothing to do with our culture and traditions.
I predict that five years from now, we are going to forget that there was a music rhythm called Zimdance Hall.
Borrowed stuff will not endure.
We must not continue to lag behind South Africa, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal.
We must also not be comfortable with catching-up all the time but be those who are leading.
This is a war which must be fought by all musicians to make our country artistically great again. Raising our flag high internationally requires coordinated efforts of all music stakeholders.
NB: For feedback, you can contact me on [email protected] or WhatsApp/SMS 0782 464 001.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter