THE 100percent One Hour Mzansi music shows sponsored by the Gauteng arts and culture department are a farce.
At a glitzy event last year the department announced that it was embarking on a project to ensure that the music of up-and-coming musicians is heard on radio stations.
The department bought airtime on Kaya FM and Yfm to the tune of R1,7million in a deal that would see the music of such artists enjoying airplay.
Even when Gauteng sports, arts, culture and recreation MEC Lebogang Maile announced this late last year, there were no clear guidelines as to how this was going to be achieved. A department spokesperson later revealed the radio stations would have the prerogative to decide how to spend the airtime.
It was some shock when the department set afloat this initiative because, honestly, whoever wants to break a lance for this industry should sustain themselves. But again it was something of an applauded venture to empower them.
According to Maile the idea was to get more local music played on radio to financially benefit the musicians.
He went on to tell the guests that this did not mean radio stations would play any poorly conceived songs on their stations purely because it was local. It was agreed that the two radio stations would dedicate an hour a week to playing only South African music.
The agreement was that only the music of independent artists should be played though the department would not dictate which songs should be played.
The radio stations would also play the songs of musicians who, though contracted to a recording company, do not get played on radio stations.
But if you have been listening to slots dedicated to this venture you will wonder. The MEC has a lot of questions to answer on this.
For instance, during the sponsored hour on George Monyesti's show on Kaya FM the other weekend, he played prominent artists such as Lira, Siphokazi, Adam Glasser and Afrotraction. New musicians whose music doesn't enjoy airplay on radio stations should have been introduced during this hour.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with playing these artists because all of them have cooked good music. Their music was honestly enjoyable but what happened to the independent musicians whose music is meant for this hour?
Surely if so much is going to be spent to develop artists, should it not be well spent?
Shows give new singers raw deal
THE 100percent One Hour Mzansi music shows sponsored by the Gauteng arts and culture department are a farce.
At a glitzy event last year the department announced that it was embarking on a project to ensure that the music of up-and-coming musicians is heard on radio stations.
The department bought airtime on Kaya FM and Yfm to the tune of R1,7million in a deal that would see the music of such artists enjoying airplay.
Even when Gauteng sports, arts, culture and recreation MEC Lebogang Maile announced this late last year, there were no clear guidelines as to how this was going to be achieved. A department spokesperson later revealed the radio stations would have the prerogative to decide how to spend the airtime.
It was some shock when the department set afloat this initiative because, honestly, whoever wants to break a lance for this industry should sustain themselves. But again it was something of an applauded venture to empower them.
According to Maile the idea was to get more local music played on radio to financially benefit the musicians.
He went on to tell the guests that this did not mean radio stations would play any poorly conceived songs on their stations purely because it was local. It was agreed that the two radio stations would dedicate an hour a week to playing only South African music.
The agreement was that only the music of independent artists should be played though the department would not dictate which songs should be played.
The radio stations would also play the songs of musicians who, though contracted to a recording company, do not get played on radio stations.
But if you have been listening to slots dedicated to this venture you will wonder. The MEC has a lot of questions to answer on this.
For instance, during the sponsored hour on George Monyesti's show on Kaya FM the other weekend, he played prominent artists such as Lira, Siphokazi, Adam Glasser and Afrotraction. New musicians whose music doesn't enjoy airplay on radio stations should have been introduced during this hour.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with playing these artists because all of them have cooked good music. Their music was honestly enjoyable but what happened to the independent musicians whose music is meant for this hour?
Surely if so much is going to be spent to develop artists, should it not be well spent?
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