A GROUP of musicians marched to the SABC studios yesterday, demanding a return to the 90% local quota and an end to illegal payments.
Many of them claimed that their music was not played on radio, unless they bribed compilers.
Musician Eugene Mthethwa of kwaito group Trompies said: “We’re marching here today to fight for the 90% quota not being supported by the SABC.”
He claimed compilers wanted bribes even when the allocation, introduced by former chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, was in place.
“Issues like illegal payments have long been there, and some artists agree to pay but nothing is being done by the SABC to stop it.
“I want to know what qualifies one to be a compiler. Isn’t it a conflict of interest if an SABC DJ plays his own music through the broadcaster?”
The artists also complained they received no feedback when they submitted music to stations.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said if artists had proof that bribery was taking place, they should provide it.
“They must understand the SABC has different radio stations playing different music. Every station has a preferred genre,” he said.
“Submitted music goes through a selection process and artists get feedback, whether or not they’re successful. When it was proven that DJs were charging for interviews, they were dismissed. The latest was Chilli M, who was fired.”
Compilers could only play music once it was in the system. “When it comes to the 90% quota, it’s not up to us but the Independent Communications Authority of SA.”
Many of them claimed that their music was not played on radio, unless they bribed compilers.
Musician Eugene Mthethwa of kwaito group Trompies said: “We’re marching here today to fight for the 90% quota not being supported by the SABC.”
He claimed compilers wanted bribes even when the allocation, introduced by former chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, was in place.
“Issues like illegal payments have long been there, and some artists agree to pay but nothing is being done by the SABC to stop it.
“I want to know what qualifies one to be a compiler. Isn’t it a conflict of interest if an SABC DJ plays his own music through the broadcaster?”
The artists also complained they received no feedback when they submitted music to stations.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said if artists had proof that bribery was taking place, they should provide it.
“They must understand the SABC has different radio stations playing different music. Every station has a preferred genre,” he said.
“Submitted music goes through a selection process and artists get feedback, whether or not they’re successful. When it was proven that DJs were charging for interviews, they were dismissed. The latest was Chilli M, who was fired.”
Compilers could only play music once it was in the system. “When it comes to the 90% quota, it’s not up to us but the Independent Communications Authority of SA.”