Petty rivalry killing music industry?

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Wednesday April 21, 2010 00:00

 

The stocky musician revealed that some stable bosses would stop their artists from collaborating with musicians from rival studios.

'This is happening and it is killing our industry because collaboration of musicians builds a harmonious working relationship and it would help produce hit albums. During the album launches it is important for musicians to also support each other and perform at the events, but it is not all the producers and record company bosses who are in favour of this idea,' he said.

According to him, some musicians have turned down their colleagues from rival stables for fear of victimisation by their bosses who often do not care about how much the opportunity would benefit their own musicians.

'Let me give you an example when Culture Spears invite me to their show in South Africa or Zimbabwe where they are very popular it is an opportunity for me to reach that part of the market. Even when their payment is not such a fat cheque, it gives me the necessary exposure, but some producers choose to ignore this,' he said.

According to him, some musicians who would have signed 'watertight contracts' end up frustrated, while their careers are stalled by their bosses' ambivalence.

Leero believes that musicians need to learn about the laws of the industry and possible challenges instead of rushing to sing on the dotted line. He has confessed that he did not know much about his rights as a musician until he left Matsieng to follow a solo career.

'Musicians are exploited and unless individuals stand up and do their own research they will always be at the mercy of some ruthless producers. For instance for a long time I did not know that if  a company wanted to use my song for a promotion or advert, I as the composer was entitled to the royalties and not the producer. But this is what is happening right now, producers and company bosses are the ones reaping the benefits. For the poor musician it is only the fact that his or her song appears on Botswana Television (Btv) or a certain radio jingle - no money,' he said.

However, Leero has admitted that it is not all producers wo are selfish saying Robert Dargie was honest with him when the Department of Tourism wanted to use his Borre number in one of their adverts.

He said that after Dargie helped him negotiate the deal he was able to sell the song for P10, 000. Now the man from Selokolela in the Ngwaketse area says he has engaged the services of a lawyer as he prepares to release his third album as a solo act.

'He advises me on a lot of issues concerning this industry. For instance he has told me that if I employ a manager he should work according to my instructions and I would be the one paying instead of him getting a large chunk of my payment and give me leftovers,' he said.

His new album called More Oo Ko Ntsweng recorded at Sun Shine Studios in Pretoria, South Africa, was supposed to have reached the music shelves a few weeks back, but due to some technicalities it had to be returned for re-printing.

'Some songs were not printed properly and one song that I had excluded from this album was mistakenly included and we had to return the first copies. It is a better album than the earlier ones because I have gone back to my old style while I was with Matsieng where I sang about places and people in my area and I did not want the listeners to have any doubts due to poor sound,' Leero said.