'Musicians should let their music be pirated'

The chairperson of the Bulawayo Musicians Association Khulekani Bethule, popularly known as Khuxxman says musicians should exploit piracy to their own advantage.

Khuxxman says piracy can be a form of marketing musicians.

Piracy has hit hard on most musicians who have failed to reap any benefits from their sweat.

The Bulawayo-based musician Bethule, however, says artists should find ways of going around the vice.

Khuxxman believes piracy can be a good marketing tool which musicians can exploit by increasing live performances rather than wait on album sales.

"Musicians must now concentrate on concerts and live shows and let their music be pirated as what is happening in the Zim dance hall genre.

Their albums are not found at record bars," he said.

On the challenges faced by upcoming musicians Khuxxman says ignorance is the major factor.

"Most of the young musicians do not even take their recorded material to various media houses and radio stations for exposure. They must also desist from using vulgar language in their songs as it destroys them," Khuxxman added.

In the past, musicians used to maximise earnings from selling their recordings but this has since stopped as technological advancements have allowed other players to reap from where they have not sown through piracy.