Online music: What Malawi music needs?
As technology in the world continues to make a breakthrough, Malawi is not spared and at the peak of its success is how it has seen the publishing of digital music on websites.
Today one does not necessarily have to walk into a shop to purchase a CD or tape of their favourite artists as things have been made simple to the extent that one is able to buy and download music on the internet.
Established three years ago, www.malawi-music.com has taken the centre stage in promoting the sales of pure Malawian music and promotion of artists online.
Marketing manager for the website Dingaani Whayo says the website was designed with an aim of supporting the Malawian artist in music sales and promotion of artists, but in a manner that is both professional and transparent.
“The website is a legal platform that is registered to offer legal digital sales of music to a global audience via the use of credit cards backed by Google’s wallet system. The music is submitted to us by artists for free download, guided by the terms and conditions provided on the submission page of the website,” said Whayo.
The coming in of this digital publisher would be labelled as a rescue plan for Malawian artists who are stranded with their music due to the closure of the music distribution company O.G Issa.
Currently, the website is selling about five albums of renowned artists who include the Black Missionaries, Lucius Banda, Anthony Makondetsa and the gospel sensation Limbani Simenti.
Howe
ver, the sales are only done Germany, United Kingdom and United States since the sale transaction is possible for customers with credit cards.
While most common avenues of music discovery, especially among young people have been through radio and television, discovery through online music services and web videos are also very important for the most active music fans that are ready to embrace new methods of engagement and learning.
The website is serving the gap in this new age digital distribution system as it has seen about 7 340 downloads for Malawi’s celebrated artist Skeffa
Chimoto.
Online music has also proved to be an ideal platform for up-and-coming artists as the website provides room for every artist to submit their music along as it meets the requirements.
Evidence to this the close to 3 000 downloads of Malawi’s promising hip pop artist, Gwamba.
