Online Reporter
Tafara Chibanda
THE Music Management Forum of Zimbabwe (MMFZ) has criticised the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) for imposing an ‘exorbitant’ US$150 tariff on cover bands, arguing that the fee is crippling live music performances across the country.
In a press statement, MMFZ Secretary-General Russell J. Mavudzi said the new tariff is stifling the growth of live music and disproportionately affecting musicians who depend on performing cover songs to earn a living.
“We are deeply concerned by ZIMURA’s hefty tariff on cover bands, which is unreasonable and detrimental to musicians who do not publish their own works but rely on live performances.
“Internationally, cover bands are recognised as a legitimate profession and, in Zimbabwe, they play a vital role in entertainment, especially in smaller venues where established artists may not be able to perform,” he said.
ZIMURA recently announced that all cover bands performing music by other artists would now be required to pay US$150 per gig.
MMFZ argues that this fee is excessive and will only serve to push struggling musicians out of business.
“This tariff is effectively a mini-ban on cover bands.
“Many of these musicians are already among the lowest-paid in the industry, and this fee will make it impossible for them to continue performing. It is an indirect way of criminalising their craft.”
MMFZ also took issue with ZIMURA’s track record on protecting the intellectual property of its members, highlighting past incidents where local artists’ works were allegedly used without proper authorisation.
“There have been several cases where ZIMURA has failed to protect the rights of its members.
“For example, Charles Charamba and Dino Mudondo have previously raised concerns over their music being used improperly.
“Leonard Dembo’s song was also used by Silent Killer without permission and ZIMURA has not adequately addressed such issues.”
“We urge ZIMURA to reconsider this tariff and work towards a fairer system that benefits all stakeholders.
“A more reasonable and balanced approach would create a win-win situation for both artists and copyright holders,” he said.
The controversy has sparked debate with several stakeholders calling for an urgent review of ZIMURA’s policies.
