SEVERAL seasoned and upcoming local gospel musicians are expected to be in class this Saturday for a free music seminar organised by Zingoma Gospel Hub, to converse on challenges they are facing in the showbiz industry.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
The seminar will be held under the theme Uniting For a Common Cause at Courtney Hotel in Harare.
In an interview with NewsDay yesterday, the event co-ordinator Fulton Bheme said over 60 musicians have registered for the seminar that will address several issues such as alternative channels of music distribution and sales, as well as organising successful music shows, so that artistes benefit from their effort.
“The seminar will help artistes with ways of marketing their music, as well as address issues of product packaging, pricing and promotion. It will also look at how social media and the web, at large, can be used to market music,” he said.
“While a number of changes have occurred over the years that have greatly affected the quality of music production, among them the emergence of many studios which might be a welcome development, however quality music production has suffered with it.”
Bheme said there will be presentations from key stakeholders in the music chain, among them representatives from radio stations, print media, television, music promoters, video producers and promoters.
“Some of our presenters are Pastor G, who will speak on conduct as a gospel artiste, while pastor Antony Gasani, who is also a producer, will present on quality of music production, with finance expert Chibamu giving a lecture on financing for a sustainable gospel music industry,” he said.
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Bheme has also bemoaned piracy, saying it has affected artistes’ works and livelihoods.
“The chief predicament being faced by gospel musicians just like any other artist is piracy. In the past, artistes’ main sources of revenue have been music sales, shows and, to a lesser extent, royalties from air play. However, music piracy and technological developments have greatly affected music sales,” he said.
“Whilst live shows have been the second main source of income for gospel musicians, the decline in demand for live shows due to socio-economic factors has affected gospel artistes and through presentations, the seminar will seek to provide solutions to such challenges.”
Bheme said Zingoma Gospel Hub aims to create platforms for gospel artistes to network and exchange ideas, facilitate, support and accelerate the development of a financially-viable and sustainable music industry, promote and package Zimbabwe gospel music for global market.
