INNOCENT MURAIWA
KWEKWE- The Zimbabwe Music Rights Association has urged upcoming musicians to make use of the online space in a bid to improve the marketing their work.
A survey by ZIMURA in Kwekwe on the living standards of musicians showed that a number of artists are struggling financially and they have advised them to secure online spaces so that they improve their earnings and popularity.
ZIMURA chief executive officer, Polisiwe Ncube Chimhini said: “Musicians play a key role in various fields like advertising, entertainment, education. I advise them to go digital so that they reach a diversified market.
“The life is now online, there are different online platforms that should be utilized by artists like, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook and those are the cyber public domain spaces where the majority of fans are found,”.
“I very much understand that music industry in Zimbabwe is a bit difficult as it does not reward financially much and potential musicians are sometimes suppressed.
“I also advise every artist embark on some side projects that may help them financially so that they don’t rely on one field,” said Chimhini.
Music industry is a field that relies on the support of the general public, it is an area that needs artists to work tirelessly so that they realise better financial rewards.
“In order to become popular upcoming musicians must partner and collaborate with established artistes and tap from their numbers,” said Chimhini.
According to Anna Taonezve who is an upcoming gospel artist from Gokwe, geographical boundaries is one of the retrogressive factors that may hinder success and the rise of new artists in the music industry. Taonezvi also reflected the issue of stereotyping whereby some parts of Zimbabwe are always looked down upon.
“Gokwe is a place which people always look down upon with uneducated and uncivilized who cannot excel in life. This the reason why I always keep to myself as I am afraid of being humiliated and ridiculed because of my place of origin,” she said.
She also said sometimes they do not have enough funds to buy data for online marketing of their music.
A Kwekwe based artist, Tonderai Muchefa (30) appealed to the Government to chip in with financial assistance to help revolutionalise the music industry.
“We appeal to the government to provide us with some funds that can help artist to survive in this cut throat industry,” he said.
