Local music initiative empowers artists

In a bid to promote and empower local artists, Newwave Group  music curators, publishers and distributors have undertaken a project aimed at enhancing artists ability to generate more revenue from their music.

The project titled Ntchito Za Manja Anga seeks to empower Malawian artists through provision of knowledge and resources needed to close the technological gap thereby revitalising distribution of Malawian music.

In an interview, Newwave Group spokesperson Mercy Diniwa said the project aims at helping artists gain a better understanding of music as a business.

“The project will help artists prevent copyright infringement of their works across multiple avenues and increase their revenue whilst strengthening the entertainment industry in Malawi.

“It will also help artists sign better deals with their managers and record labels as the industry continues to grow,” she said.

The project is being implemented through a  Copyright Fund Grant under the theme of post-pandemic recovery.

Commenting on the inaugural workshop in Mzuzu, which marked the debut of the project, Diniwa said artists were taught about copyright, publishing, distribution and revenue diversification and the workshop mapped the route for the project.

“As Newwave, we also learnt a lot on how to structure the workshop and I am sure the quality of the workshop will improve as we go to other cities,” she said.

In a separate interview, musician Charisma, who is currently working with Newwave on the project, said the project is an opportunity for artists who want to make revenue off their talent.

“There’s a huge knowledge gap in the industry, most of us are doing it blindly. This project is an eye-opener for artists who want to treat music as a business,” he said.

The rapper urged upcoming artists to utilise the opportunity and benefit from the project at hand.

“As artists, we have never had this opportunity to learn about the music business. We have gotten this far through hard work and a lot of luck. Up-and-coming artists have a chance to do things differently and should welcome this opportunity,” he said.

Hip-hop artist Synik, who also attended the workshop in Mzuzu, said the meeting was informative.

“You have to learn how the music business machine works and the initiative is there to provide the know-how and resources on how artists can go about these things.

“I walked into the workshop without knowledge of publishing but I walked out with a lot of knowledge that I intend to apply going forward,” he said.

The project is expected to run until May 2024 and will target other cities, including Zomba and Blantyre, taking upcoming artists and veterans on board.