Chronicle Editor
Mbulelo Mpofu in Hwange
STAKEHOLDERS within the music sector are set to meet at St Ignatius Cathedral Roman Catholic Hall in Hwange today for the annual regional Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (Zimura) Copyright Awareness workshop.
Zimura, the country’s music royalty collection and distribution agency has made it a point to engage stakeholders in the music business in consultative meetings so at to understand the unique challenges faced by songwriters and to explore ways the association can provide more effective support.
Zimura deputy director, Henry Makombe told Chronicle Showbiz:
“These workshops are meant to empower law enforcement agencies, musicians, authors, composers, producers and publishers of music with knowledge needed in the music business. We target non-members of the association as well as the general public.
“We want stakeholders in the music business to understand the copyright law and how it benefits them. We’ll also unpack the roles of the association and what musicians stand to benefit. They need to see the value of the music business and make it a sustainable source of income for them,” said Makombe.
Expected to attend are representatives from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Breeze FM, Lyeja FM and the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ).
They will be discussing various topics, including Zimura licensing and the roles these stakeholders play in levelling the playing field for musicians.
One key issue raised by composers is the timely and fair distribution of royalties. Many have expressed frustration over delayed or insufficient payments, hampering their ability to sustain their artistic pursuits.
Zimura has pledged to streamline its royalty collection and distribution processes, leveraging technology to ensure more seamless and transparent transactions.
Beyond royalties, Zimura has also explored ways to provide additional support to its member composers.
This includes exploring avenues for funding, networking opportunities and educational programmes to help nurture the next generation of musical talent. — @MbuleloMpofu
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