Govt orders television, radio stations to pay musicians their royalties

GOVERNMENT has ordered local television and radio stations to pay up royalties to musicians who receive airplay for their upkeep as music was their source of income.

Speaking at the launch of Sniper Storm's seventh album Silver Bullet in Harare on Thursday night, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services deputy minister Supa Mandiwanzira said people should desist from buying pirated music to encourage growth of the industry.

"Television and radio stations should pay artistes their royalties so that they survive from their works," Mandiwanzira said.

"Let us desist from buying pirated discs. Buy original ones to encourage the growth of the industry."

The minister's statement comes at a time the arts industry is reeling from pirates who have flooded the market.

The Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (Zimura) recently approached the Information ministry to compel ZBC to pay outstanding dues, a move that would hopefully bring relief to local musicians.

Mandiwanzira left the audience in stitches when he "fluently" spoke with Sniper in Jamaican's Patois language that has become synonymous with local dancehall chanters and fans.

Speaking at the same event, Zimura chairman Albert Nyathi urged artistes to desist from drug abuse and respect the stage as a serious workplace.

"Artistes must be serious with their careers if they want to make a livelihood through arts. Stay away from drugs, no alcohol on or before the stage," Nyathi said.
Nyathi said artistes must be creative and be original if they were to make it both locally and internationally.

"Creativity is composing a song in a way that defines you as artistes without being labelled a copycat. I had listened to some local songs that sound exactly like tracks of a South African gospel musician Lundi of which we have our own talent, why not maintain that?" Nyathi said.

Meanwhile, several artistes  in  dancehall circles, among them Soul Jah Love and his wife Bounty Lisa, Dadza D and Amara Brown, graced the launch. Mandiwanzira, who was standing in for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services minister Jonathan Moyo, presented Sniper with $1 000 from his boss for part of the costs incurred for the release of the album.

The 12-track album features contemporary musician Jah Prayzah and female dancehall chanter Da Ruler.

Jah Prayzah features on the song Gotsi Papata while Da Ruler is on the track Musandipopotere. Some of the songs on the album are Musikana Anetundebvu, Ndisimudzeiwo, title track Silver Bullet, Vanhu Vasinganamate, Sorry, King Solomon and Mbama Yemupurisa.
Sniper, born Donald Chirisa, saluted his fans for supporting his music. "The launch of this album is a milestone in my career, but I could not have reached such a level if it was not for my loyal fans," Sniper said.