Give South African music a chance...Go Digital

In the past couple of weeks Mzansi-Music.co.za has received attacks from people of various backgrounds, accusing us of stealing from artists by running the online music portal. 

Mzansi-music.co.za, a music site created in conjuction with two local artists and producers, was developped with the intention to promote local music for both the successful and the up coming artists. You will agree with me that South Africa has a lot of talents, but it is also true that the industry does not make it easy for up coming talents to get exposure. Mzansi-music is what we came up with as a way of giving a platform to all these talented up coming artists who just can't get a recording deal...regardless of how good their music is. 

And on the other hand, for the successful ones, the world has embraced the digital era and music is not an exception. The growth in the digital music market in the past 10 years has proven that it is more and more easier for people to purchase their music online. Not only does the Internet increase music availability but also broadens the choice and reduces the cost while and the same time adding up to artists income. Mzansi-music's finally phase of the launch is to provide such a service.

Thus far, we have made several attempts to get the necessary credentials in order to legalise our operations by approaching relevant music governing authorities such as RISA and SAMRO, but we have received no response at all. In the past 8 months we have seen Mzansi-music's audience shoot up to 1 million hits a month both locally and globally. During this period we have operated within the limits of the law. However, there's a chinese adage that say "the higher a tree grows, the stronger the wind it is bound to face". We have been recently accused of illegal use of artists photos and so on...

This all bolis down to one things: "YOUNG ENTERPRENEURS IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE NEVER GIVEN A CHANCE!"

When I say "young entrepreneurs" I refer to you (the up coming artists) and us (mzansi-music staff). We ha a great idea that is meant to benefit not only the young artists across the country but the music industry as a whole! And it cannot be supported neither by RISA or SAMRO. Are they only concerned about the successful artists who pay them membership fees or are they also interested in help the "young artist" who has a lot potential, but is financial disadvantaged and cannot invest money into their music career? And to the successful artists we have one question: why is it okay to submit your materials to US based services like YouTube who is already making billions of dollars without giving you a share; but when the same material is streamed on a local service it becomes a case?

Mzansi-music is a site by South Africans and for South Africans. That is today we ask of your support as we demand that RISA and SAMRO and everybody else to give SA music a chance by allowing it to go Digital. We direct this petition to RISA, SAMRO and and other IP governing bodies and the South African artists to give Mzansi-Music accredition to carry on offering our services knowing that we are operating in the best interest or the artists and the consumers.

Our business plan is available on request simply email info@mzansi-music.co.za

And to the rest of Mzansi if you would like to continue seeing Mzansi-Music online, please sign this petition.