Foreign music on radio worries ZAM

Wed, 14 Jun 2017 12:05:04 +0000

By TERENCE MISELO
The Zambia Association of Musicians (ZAM) has noticed with dismay the airplay time being awarded to foreign music especially Nigerian hit songs.
In an interview, ZAM president Njoya Tembo disclosed that a number of radio stations have sought to ignore the 75% percent of airplay given by Zambian law since the UNIP days.
“It’s not that we are insecure or afraid of competition but promotion of local music needs to be given priority at all times. Can you imagine each time you tune to the different radio stations we are being exposed to Naija songs,” Tembo said.
“Music is our heritage and as such there’s need to nurture and preserve it. Of course our concern doesn’t stop Zambians from enjoying music from other nations in their homes, vehicles or night clubs. Radio airplay is our concern. It’s an open secret that Zambian music has survived competition as our complaint was similar in our neighbouring country Malawi. Once upon a time, we took over Malawi airwaves and they had to speak-out and this is what we are experiencing too.”
Mr Tembo hopes the Media Owners Association will show their relevance by being proactive especially in observing the law and promotion of local music.
” It’s unbelievable that a local station should have a mortgage or trailing made of foreign music. That is scandalous! With that attitude, where do you thinks it’s DJ will get to? Let’s be patriotic just as the Republician President Mr Edgar Lungu urged us during his last address to parliament.