(Picture Courtesy of MADBOIZ Entertainment )
By: Michael Chipato
Urban Grooves star Nox Guni argues that he is coping in a piracy
infested business and vows that artists must become more creative to navigate through
the technologies that threaten reward for hardworking artists.
Zimbabwe’s Copyright and Neighbouring Act makes it an offence for any
person to sell, let, hire, trade or distribute any article that prejudices the
owner of the copyright in question. The National Anti-Piracy Task Force, the
Zimbabwean Union of Musicians and other stakeholders including the Zimbabwe
Republic Police constantly race behind unstoppable and ever accelerating
technologies that now threaten the livelihoods of many artists. Amidst the
craze, the street chases and seeming maze, Nox Guni claims to have found his
route through the maze. During his recent UK tour with Thomas Mapfumo, he
spared some time for some frank talk with NewZimbabwe.com and had this to say:
Nox - Tarisai Mukati [Official Audio]
MC: What do you view
as the greatest threat to Zimbabwean music industry (as a business) today?
Nox: Well the greatest threat to our industry today is the
growth which is very slow. We really can’t call it an industry yet because it can’t
successfully support more than five artists. Our market is very small and the
musicians are too many. However that may work to our advantage as it means
that- the more the artists, the greater the competition, meaning artists will
not just rush to release half-baked material.
MC: Do you think the
government is doing enough to fight piracy?
Nox: I’m not very sure, what the government might be doing
is to curb piracy, but I think they are trying their best. I hear of CD vendors
being arrested in the streets and maybe that is a start.
MC: How can piracy be
fought head on?
Nox: We can never win the battle against piracy, as long as
technology is available, it’s a lost battle. The best we can do is to devise
methods that can make us benefit from the piracy itself. CD sales are at an all
time low worldwide and it’s mainly because of piracy, which is fuelled by
technology.
MC: How have you
survived in the music industry highly infested with piracy?
Nox: Well as for me personally, I do not bank on CD sales as
far as music income is concerned. Very few people are buying CDs. Just ask
yourself when was the last time you bought an original CD of any Zimbabwean
artist...or any artist at all, but you might have all the hot music from
Zimbabwe and abroad, that is what is called piracy. People can easily google
any song, or download straight to your phone via tubidy. What I do is I actually let people get the music for free
and the higher the popularity- the more the opportunities I get for shows and
corporate endorsements. That is where the money is, not in CD sales.
MC: From what you
have said, you sound like a prophet of doom foreseeing the demise of the
traditional sale of music am I right?
Nox: It’s going to depend on a number of variables. What is
certain is; as long as the music is available for free downloads on other
online platforms, then they are simply wasting their time. Artists need to
evacuate from their comfort zone and raise their creative game.
MC: How do you make
money from your music?
Nox: My money comes from the tours and the concerts that I
do. On top of that I own a record label as another avenue for income. We also
have a clothing line that brings in income. Music in itself might not bring any
substantial income. It is just a platform to make money through other avenues
that are facilitated by the music. Royalties come once or twice a year, and it’s
not something you can really bank on, for example, the whole of last year, I
netted about USD3000 from royalties and that cannot really sustain an artist.
MC: Do you find
yourself cushioned by your other business projects under your Ice n Roses
label?
Nox: Precisely. I am lucky that I have other business that
fall under Ice n Roses that bring in income. That eases the pressure on me a
little, which would have not been the case if I was only surviving on money
that comes from CD sales and tours. Besides this, I have a full time job for a
Training Institution in Sandton. That also provides the financial security
which acts as a morale booster when making the music.
MC: What is the
future of Zimbabwean music? It looks like everyone is becoming a musician?
Nox: That’s very true, many young Zimbabweans are becoming
musicians. I am not sure if it is because of the love for music, the perceived
income that might come with it, or merely for the fame that comes with it.
However, the quality of music is really improving. All that is left now is for
us to have world class videos that can be played on the international music
video channels. On top of that, the government and the corporate sector need to
do a lot to help supporting the artists. We cannot do without the support of
these institutions. But then again, for that to happen, we as artists need to
prove that we are serious with the music business, our images, our brands and
the way the public view us has to be such that the business sector and the
government has confidence in us to an extent of wanting to be associated with
us through sponsorships and endorsements.
MC: What should
Zimbabwe expect from you in the near future?
Nox: I have a new album which will be released in August.
The album has 15 tracks and is called 8th Wonder. I have since
released three singles off that album namely Usazvinyepere, Tarisai Mukati
& Kwangu Kuchengera which
features other artists. We are also releasing a reggae riddim compilation
called Ice n Roses Riddim which has 20 artists including Sniper, Freeman,
Trinta, Mai Prim, Junior Spice and many others. There is loads in store!
Nox - Usazvinyepere (OFFICIAL AUDIO)
MC: Finally your
quick brief on your most recent UK tour.
Nox: My UK tour went very well for me. I have no complaints
whatsoever and I really appreciate how people are receiving me in England. It
is a confidence booster when people actually come out in numbers and go home
satisfied. I had four shows in London, Leicester, Chester and Slough. I could
feel the love from my fans and I’m glad they enjoyed every bit of it. Next time
I will be coming with a full band so as to develop from performing with
backtracks to using a full band, which I already have. It is my wish that I use
my Ice n Roses band every time I perform but sometimes it will be very costly
for the promoters to bring me and my full band.
