- Title: South African artists support SABC plan to play 90% local music
- Date: 18th May 2016
- Summary: CARS AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS
- Embargoed: 2nd June 2016 16:05
- Keywords: Local Music Quota Artists Musicians SABC Radio Airplay
- Location: UNKNOWN LOCATIONS AND JOHANESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
- City: UNKNOWN LOCATIONS AND JOHANESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA0064IC4A53
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Musicians like jazz artist John Laka and his band who have been on the forefront of a campaign to get more radio airplay for their music have something to celebrate, after South Africa's national broadcaster - SABC recently announced a plan to play 90 percent local music on its 18 radio stations.
The broadcaster says it wants to promote more home-grown talent and see artists get paid for rights to play their music.
"People who have calculators must start counting, ka-ching, ka-ching every time you hear a South African song - its money at home, the till is running for South Africa now, that's the best thing," said jazz legend, Don Laka.
SABC says various genres will be played representing the growing number of talented musicians in the country, in a move that also aims to reflect the diversity of South African cultures.
South African music, long associated with the anti-apartheid struggle, is changing tempo to target social issues like crime and the impact of AIDS, love stories and politics in the fledgling democracy.
"All of that is done to make sure that our heritage and our culture is exposed to the public and to the people outside this country," said Kaizer Kganyago, the SABC the Spokesman.
A decade ago the government had ruled that radio stations must play a minimum of 40 percent local content, up from 20 percent previously, aiming to limit the dominance of foreign imports as indigenous artists struggle to match their marketing might.
South Africa's music industry struggles with piracy, like many others across Africa. Cheap copies of local music are often sold and legislation to protect copyright is not always enforced.
Tiyani Maluleke, the general manager at South Africa Music Rights Organisation says that the country's music industry is capable of producing enough music for local radio stations.
"South Africa has a lot of content, we have a lot of composers, we have a lot of compositions, publishers have a lot of catalogues with local content."
The new quota is seen as a major boost for local artists who mainly depend on radio stations to broadcast their music.
Local musicians have in recent years been calling for more airplay in radio stations, saying radio airplay provides the avenue to grow audiences and sell their music.
SABC will start off by playing Gospel, Kwaito and Jazz music which are popular in the country for its 30 million listeners who tune in every week.
"People are innovative and versatile, creative juices will flow now. They must just be reminded that when you think you are good, no you are not good enough -- you must make sure that the enemy of good - you introduce the enemy of good and say the enemy of good is better, those who think they are better must be told no, musically the enemy of better is best, so you guys strive for excellence - so we should say let the sky be the limit," said Mzwakhe Mbuli, a Johannesburg resident.
"Most of the local music I know is more of vulgar and let me say, verbal language that is not appropriate. So I wouldn't advise such people to say that we should play 90% of local music," added Tshepo, another resident.
The broadcaster has also been encouraging local producers to come up with proposals for TV productions and has hired commissioning editors in various offices across the country. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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