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Music events fees hiked

Music lovers in the country should prepare to dig deeper in their pockets to attend live music performances as promoters have adjusted gate fees for the events.

From April 1, gate fees for music shows will be pegged at a minimum of K5 000, an adjustment from the K3 000 fee that most event organisers have been charging. The change will also apply to all artists who organise their own shows and venue owners who hire artists.

Fans will have to pay more to access entertainment

Reads the communication from Live Show Organisers Association: “Please take note that the entry fees for live shows has not been adjusted for the last seven years while the general cost of living has drastically increased over the years.”

The music promoters have also cited the increase in the cost of advertising, accommodation, hiring artists and transport as other factors that have necessitated the hike.

Live Show Organisers Association spokesperson Macdonald Soko said organising music events requires a big investment, as such it does not make sense if the people behind the events are not reaping anything in return.

He said: “We don’t do the shows cosmetically. When we look at the arrangement realistically, we find that we don’t earn anything from the shows. In fact, most of the times we post losses from these events. I don’t think we can go on like that.”

But Soko said artists who are not fully established will be allowed to decide gate charges on their own.

He dismissed fears that the new prices will scare off people from their events.

“If you look at prices of commodities and services across the economy, you will see that there has been a significant rise. The same way people have adjusted with the high cost of living is the same they will do with the shows,” he said.

The cost of hiring most of the established artists is around K1.4 million and K300 000 for the up-and-coming ones. Most of the venue owners charge between K60 000 and K200 000 to hire out their places.

Long-time music promoter Jai Banda said he has never made a profit from the shows that he organises as the money that is paid to hire the artists is never recovered. He said people no longer patronise shows like they used to and the few who do so don’t like paying.

He said: “We just do it for the passion. We take it as our service to the nation. Even when we host international artists, we still make losses.”

Banda said because of such unfavourable business environment, the industry does not have consistent music promoters as people abandon the ship after realising that the investment is not profitable.

Owner of Squirrels Park, Tobias Keliophas said the raise is justifiable considering the high cost of living. He said that people will soon get used to the new rates.

However, some fans have spoken against the move ,saying the association does not have powers to set minimum gate fee.

“Unfortunately, this will affect organisers who will somehow adhere and we as fans, will have to bear the brunt of this unfair move,” said Cephus Banda, a music fan from Ndirande Township in Blantyre.

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