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Kalawa Jazmee cannot stay a small independent label forever, it must grow as a player in the industry.
And according to Kalawa Jazmee boss DJ Oscar, real name Oscar Mdlongwa, the record label is engaged in confidential talks.
That’s because it intends to enter into a partnership deal with one of the country’s major record labels, rumoured to be Universal Music.
The DJ says the music industry is facing challenges, including dwindling CD sales, and smart businesses need to reinvent themselves to succeed.
Kalawa’s directors (Zynne “DJ Mahoota” Sibika, Mandla “Spikiri” Mofokeng, Emmanuel “Mjokes” Matsane and Bruce “Dope” Sebitlo) said they were looking into partnerships for synergies and economies of scale.
“Through partnerships, we will be able to invest more into artist development and growth,” says DJ Oscar.
“The partnerships will afford us the ability to focus on growing our business rather than worry about administrative issues. But what we do not have at the moment is administrative capacity. We are creatives in the studio.”
According to DJ Oscar, the decreasing entertainment purse is a challenge. It makes it difficult to grow the business.
“If we were to sell part of Kalawa, our artists would be a priority and would be safe,” he says.
But DJ Oscar insists Kalawa is not broke. He says it needs to enter into strategic partnership with other labels so it can achieve its growth potential.
He says Kalawa’s success was because it moved away from being a strictly kwaito label by diversifying its offering.
“We do other genres besides kwaito,” said DJ Oscar.
“Our catalogue ranges from ballads to Afro-pop, so we’re not limited to specific genres.
“It depends on which artist we are working with.” -sundayworld.co.za
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter