EP.50 SA Music Scene vs Overseas Opportunities Part 2

When Fate Ties You Into A Knot - What Do You Do?

Gallo records reports that IBOKWE, Thandiswa Mazwai’s second album, has passed the 20 000 sales mark, attaining Gold status for South Africa. Courtesy http://www.music.org.za/News.asp

I would feel envious and jealous to the success of Thandiswa Mazwai for this record-breaking achievement, If you were in my shoes you would probably feel the same way too. The fact of the matter is that she might be struggling to pay certain bill or for her townhouse or maybe keeping up with her overdraft who knows. I can be totally wrong and forgiven for thinking this way.

Newspaper headlines read “Musicians and singers, who are living in KwaZulu-Natal, will no longer have to travel to Johannesburg to record their music, thanks to the opening of a R15 million recording studio in the province”. The multi-million rand facility, called KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Music House, with top-of-the-range facilities, was opened by provincial MEC for Finance Ina Cronje, on Friday. The studio material at the KZN Music House in Greyville, Durban, competes with M1 studios in Auckland Park, Jozi.

As if, these musicians will conquer the world and the world charts from this day onward to live life of bling-bling to the fullest. A warning alarm I resonated almost 28 years ago with resentment and discomfort to sign any record deal where details are blurred and unclear and copyright ownership is not recognized. My musician colleagues and friends, who wanted the glamor and glory of instant fame and stardom, signed without blinking and failed to heed my warning call.

I was right and they were wrong this time and disappointed because my vision was too optimistic and far-fetched to comprehend. They signed their lives over to a record deal company that they later on regretted. 30 year later, I am still in the business of making music and trying to lay a foundation of my own independent international label a road I would encourage every aspiring SA musician to patiently embark on if they’re serious with a long lasting career in music.

Nine (9) out of 10 so called current South African legends and music super star face a bleak future ahead of their retirement, than we can afford to give them credit for their fame and super star status. Why? two reasons come to my mind. The local South African culture and music consumer does not respect the law and the use of local musician’s intellectual property nor do they comprehend the value of musical talent, creative input let alone the financial investment that goes into producing a successful artist or record.

Simply put, it is because the South African copyright law has too many flaws to protect these musicians into a successful retirement of their careers in music. SAMRO is supposedly the big deal for most local artist, as if it is the be all and end all of the road to riches in music, thus complacency has set precedence with musicians over issues dealing with copyright laws besides royalty payments or piracy of their music by local consumers and organized crime.

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