Nhlalwenhle Ngwenya
LIKE Zimbabwean vendors who always have an initiative for beating financial blues and street hustle, Zimbabwean musicians are finally harnessing social media platforms to sell their music.
Mostly using WhatsApp and ecocash, Zimbabwean artistes are now sending and selling their music on the virtual world, to interested parties.
To combat piracy most Zimbabwean artistes initiallyA� took to the streets selling their music from car boots for a $1, for which they are now charging as much for a single track. Sadly still, social media platforms are far from beating piracy.
Unlike on iTunes, where musicians have to go through a middle man to sell their music online,A� the WhatsApp platform gives artistes a chance to be in charge of marketing and selling their music.
The same music marketing approach has been adopted by international hip-hop music mogul, Jay Za��s tidal software application which Kanye west used to launch his new album The Life of Pablo.
Considering that ecocash is extending its services to the whole world, it means that Zimbabwean artistes can sell their music using WhatsApp on international platforms, without going through the Visa and debit card hustle.
Using only a phone number and good marketing skills on social networks artistes can now tap on the billion dollar music industry.
Leading the pack of the new business savvy artistes is James Mpakula also known as Jnr Brown who is selling his music through Whatsapp. His latest offering Tongogara is so far doing well making as much as $5 000 dollars within five days from the release date.
Harnessing more than 40 000 reviews on facebook upon release, Jnr Browna��s track was set for success plus the fair share of airplay from radio stations.
According to Kuda Musasiwa, Jnr Browna��s executive producer and the co-ordinator of this new content distribution route, the entire approach was actually an experiment inspired by the massive response Jnr Brown was getting on social media.
But to some, mostly upcoming artistes, the tide is not working in their favour as they are still struggling to make a dime despite a strong presence on social media.
Man of the moment, hip-hop artiste, Cal_Vin said artistes have to embrace a large part of the social media to gradually realise bankable profits from the online services.
a�?I am currently on several platforms online that are selling my music. A track goes for a dollar and an album goes for ten dollars. For example I am on Google music, Tidal, iTunes and Spotify. One of my albums is doing pretty well, once Zimbabweans embrace these social stores, then we can as well tap into the million-dollar industry,a�? he said.
Nigel a�?Nijoea�? Zhou one of the upcoming artistes with many views on YouTube and Facebook said he is yet to turn the large followings into monetary value.
a�?The move by Jnr Brown is a good and well-timed strategy, which most artistes with social media exposure must follow. As of this moment I have as much views on different platforms but am yet to turn the likes and views into monetary value,a�? he said.
