THE association of music managers, Music Management Forum of Zimbabwe, is pushing for a policy that will see local radio stations availing 60% of their airplay to up-and-coming artistes' music.
The organisation’s secretary-general Russell Mavudzi said they wanted to push for more local content on radio and television.
“We want to talk to our parent ministry to co-ordinate with the Ministry of Information and Publicity so that there is at least 90% local content on radio stations and 60% should be from up-and-coming artistes,” he said.
“The field is not even, they don't receive airplay like established artistes some of them have music stacked in radio station libraries.
“Such a policy will help to minimise the gap and create an equal platform."
Up-and-coming artistes are constrained financially to be able to market their music and have limited platforms to perform as promoters prefer established artistes.
“We are also going to advocate for a 60% slot for up-and-coming artistes on national events line-ups to empower them and avail platforms to market their careers.
“However, no artiste should perform for free at those events.”
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The government introduced 100% local content at the turn of millennium that saw the emergence of urban grooves music.Partnerships and interactions are required to form synergies in the music sector as the effects of the economic downturn afflicts all the sectors.
Mavudzi is optimistic that new Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture minister Anselem Sanyatwe will increase the budget allocation for the music industry.
“The music industry is like a precious mineral, artistes can contribute significantly to Zimbabwe's GDP following in the footsteps of Nigeria, South Africa, Jamaica and the US,” he said.
"The incoming minister can develop policies that ensure the industry is protected and budget allocations from government for the arts sector are increased.”
He believes that attendance at world seminars like WOMEX help to promote international collaborations.
“We are creating modules for music management, which can be approved by the Ministry of Education following Music Crossroads that established a music management course which I don't think was well-subscribed hence it was suspended.
“The modules will include international players as we are also a member of the International Music Managers Forum.”
