adminHowever, the artistes they record seem not to be noticed by the locality they are in, let alone the country. With studios such as Moonlight, Mic Alaze, Banks Beats, House of Rising Stars and 2Nice Beats Studios just to mention but a few, one wonders what the problem is in the artistes getting recognition.
Saturday Leisure this week spoke to the producers at the studios to find out what was the missing link between the product and the market.
They did not mince their words as they laid blame on the national broadcaster for not giving Bulawayo artistes airplay. They said in the 11 years urban grooves came into prominence it has not evolved as the same people were the ones being played on radio.
Tawanda “T-Krud” Mauchaza of Mic Ablaze Studios, who produces for Orthodox Six, said they had done all they could to get artistes from his studio given airplay but all to no avail.
He said they had registered with various organisations and met the requirements of radio stations but there has been no respite.
“We have done our part as producers but the problem is that we are not getting played. We have registered where we are supposed to register, packaged our products the way they want and formed associations to fight this monster but alas we are still on square one. You mean to tell me there are no other artistes other than Roki, Maskiri, Stunner, Sniper etc, who have come up since 2001. They have won countless awards because they are being played everyday at our expense,” said T-Krud.
He said in Zimbabwe there was no music industry as people in it were not benefiting from the long hours in studios.
“It is disheartening to note that we put so much effort and money in our music and we have not benefited from it. The music industry in the country is non-existent as the producer is not getting money, same as those who market the product, and the artiste. I hope this new radio station Star FM does not follow in the footsteps of Power Fm of having the same artistes but breathe fresh air into the music industry,” said T-Krud.
Joe Maseko of The House of Rising Stars said there was a missing link between product and the market and that was money to produce a music video.
He said the music video was the most important marketing tool for the artiste but not many were shooting them. “The music video tends to be more expensive than producing the song. Doing a video needs $300, that is about six tracks that can be recorded, but the video is one of the things that are needed to push the artiste,” said Maseko.
He said the other problem was that local promoters were not keen on holding platforms for local artistes and they would rather get artistes from outside the city to perform.
“We are not getting promoters that hold platforms for upcoming artistes which could assist them in getting known. However they opt to have established artistes, a situation that does not help in the growth of Bulawayo talent,” said Maseko, who produced award-winning POY.
Emmandson “Forbes” Ndlovu marketing and artistes manager at Banks Beats Studios, who produced Kasi Lunatics, said a lot of talent was being lost to neighbouring South Africa because locally they were not being promoted.
He said the reason was that local radio stations had no faith in Bulawayo artistes and their music.
“The problem is that radio stations have no faith in Bulawayo artistes. They will give airplay to them but not at times that are conducive, for example late into the night. The target market will be asleep at that time. But Harare artistes will be given airplay at peak hours,” said Forbes.
After all has been said the fact still remains the urban grooves scene has not evolved as only a handful of new artistes have made it to the top, the likes of BaShupi, Jah Prayza and Winky D, all from Harare.
Does this mean that Sku, PoZee and Lady Thug are the only artistes in Bulawayo and that Nasty Tricks is the only artistes from Gweru, and there are no other artistes from the rest of the country? Maybe with the new radio station Star FM this will see other artistes outside Harare being heard on the radio.
The launch of the radio station saw people shifting from Power FM to listen to what new stuff it has.
“The new radio station should not fall into the trap of playing Harare music and also give a chance to other artistes to be heard. They should remember that they are not broadcasting to a Harare audience but to other people. We want to hear our own artistes, that is why I now listen to Star FM with the hope I will hear someone from Bulawayo,” said Raymond Nsingo, of Nkulumane.
Online Reporter