12 replies to this topic

[Benoit]

Hey, y'all Music Heads. Just thought I'd pose the question and find out what you guys think about the Kenyan music industry (if at all we have one) and where it is headed. The reason I ask this is because, we've had quite a number of talented artistes come up only to get frustrated in the process. Guys have given up their dreams, only to be frustrated by small or no sales at all, little or no air play or even total disregard. Once in a while some artiste may get a break in the form of some political party buying his work for promotional purposes, another lucky dude may get some endorsement deal. But in the case of the politicians, I think the artist (I don't know if this makes sense) should actually try and use that as a platform to lobby for proper enforcement of copyright legislation in the future or say basically some law or other to protect him as an intellectual just like any other working Kenyan, or at least something that would benefit him in the long run as opposed to a once off amount which might just benefit them short term. Feel me.

[Couzifer]

its a thick dark cloud of piracy n' corruption over tha' commercial music industry in Kenya -- it lacks good organisation n' support makin' it hard for tha' artists to breakthrough. I feel that there is still alot needed to be done to get tha' industry in a promisin' position.

[willpress]

The future? Umm first lets look at the present.The music industry in Kenya has gone some leaps and a few bounds...You will notice that now its more easy to produce music and music videos than say,15yrs ago.Gone are the days when the only record labels were some obscure names that people hardly knew about and concentrated on producing for live vernacular bands.Those days, the closest one could ever get to making a music video was a stage performance at "Mizizi" or Juma Mdudu's "Burudani".Thanks to the reducin costs of technology we know have at least a number of record labels in every major town with lots of young producers that are ready ( but not necesarily able) to serve the aritiste of today.

Then by extension now more and more Kenyans are willing to explore their artistic side.Proof of this is by the massive turnout in competions and events such as Project Fame and more recently Channel O's Emcee Challenge and of course not forgetting WAPI.

Further, the political machinery and the corporate sector wants to be a player in the music industry. . .there are endorsements from political parties and business entities. . .if one gets lucky!
But am not sayn everythn is hunky dory!

[de_la_me]

like all industries,the kenyan music industry is as competitive just as it controversial.the word is Monopoly.thos whu cum out to the top have 2 'hustle' their wayFree radio,thas the (st step b4 y'All thnk o smthn else,peace!

[ms.Rain]

what are the names of the major labels in Kenya?

[YasinFarr]

you wanna kno a good artist from kenya check out

http://www.myspace.com/yasinfarr

[Couzifer]

ms.Rain said:

what are the names of the major labels in Kenya?

Calif Records, Ogopa Djs, Homeboyz Records - those are jus' afew among many in Nairobi.
Tabasam Records, Ufuoni Records, Kelele Records, among others in Mombasa.

[Blackfella]

Well the industry is tougher than it may seam..as an artist from coast,breaking into the industry means shifting basis to Nairobi. I can say that the industry is centralised in the capital,to break into the industry,you must record at a major lebal in nairobi and shoot a video with a major company which cost alot..Now,for artists to benefit in kenya,then guideline must be laid to ease the artists hustle..from recordin,marketing,distribution and tours.if entertainment companys work side to side with artist to those heights,artists will reap what they work hard 4..But Bidii yako mambo yote,.Its also tough for me as a young artist who is new to the industry to reach alot of people because 1st,you get sidelined since the top artist dominate everything.2nd.Its corrupt to extents that you have to bribe presenters,tv personalities and major djs to play your music.that means that only those with money n bad music make it and people from die musicaly when they loose faith..if you have any sugestion email me >Maltred@hotmail.com check ma page,http://www.lyricskenya.com/Members/279

[ms.Rain]

I couldn't get your link to work, I always have suggestions but I need to know where you are at in the process.

Blackfella said:

Well the industry is tougher than it may seam..as an artist from coast,breaking into the industry means shifting basis to Nairobi. I can say that the industry is centralised in the capital,to break into the industry,you must record at a major lebal in nairobi and shoot a video with a major company which cost alot..Now,for artists to benefit in kenya,then guideline must be laid to ease the artists hustle..from recordin,marketing,distribution and tours.if entertainment companys work side to side with artist to those heights,artists will reap what they work hard 4..But Bidii yako mambo yote,.Its also tough for me as a young artist who is new to the industry to reach alot of people because 1st,you get sidelined since the top artist dominate everything.2nd.Its corrupt to extents that you have to bribe presenters,tv personalities and major djs to play your music.that means that only those with money n bad music make it and people from die musicaly when they loose faith..if you have any sugestion email me >Maltred@hotmail.com check ma page,http://www.lyricskenya.com/Members/279

[Emigee]

There are two things about music industry one is the side of for fun and for the hoods, like doing music for the sake for you love music, then the second one is doing music as a business. in kenya i think a good number fail to differentiate the two, it’s like your torn between the business part and for fun. For business it’s like any other business there has to be a foundation and plans and an entry plan and having some serious accounts to manage the business. I do like Sean john not of is lyrical inability, but for the business aspect of show business. So most artists in Kenya they hustle up where they are, for instance Jua-Cali took just too long to do his album for he saw no business form. The endorsement I may call it luck. The things is that the future of Kenyan music is a state of mind. The so called artist have the task to keep it alive and going, as far as am concern there is a future but it all depends on how we want it to be, either more commercial or true roots.

[Emigee]

There are two things about music industry one is the side of for fun and for the hoods, like doing music for the sake for you love music, then the second one is doing music as a business. in kenya i think a good number fail to differentiate the two, it’s like your torn between the business part and for fun. For business it’s like any other business there has to be a foundation and plans and an entry plan and having some serious accounts to manage the business. I do like Sean john not of is lyrical inability, but for the business aspect of show business. So most artists in Kenya they hustle up where they are, for instance Jua-Cali took just too long to do his album for he saw no business form. The endorsement I may call it luck. The things is that the future of Kenyan music is a state of mind. The so called artist have the task to keep it alive and going, as far as am concern there is a future but it all depends on how we want it to be, either more commercial or true roots.

[Couzifer]

I feel u' on this Emigee...most cats around jus' been consumed by confusion, some wanna do it fa' teh love but they don't got teh resouces to keep em on board, others wanna do it fa' teh business but they don't got the enterprenuership skillz + they "sh!t stinks" since they all tryna rush fa' the "loot"...

unnecessary beefin n' sh!t?...we far from American East coast, West coast steez...we gotta do sh!t our own way!

Peace!

[Emigee]

Couzifer said:

I feel u' on this Emigee...most cats around jus' been consumed by confusion, some wanna do it fa' teh love but they don't got teh resouces to keep em on board, others wanna do it fa' teh business but they don't got the enterprenuership skillz + they "sh!t stinks" since they all tryna rush fa' the "loot"...

unnecessary beefin n' sh!t?...we far from American East coast, West coast steez...we gotta do sh!t our own way!

Peace!

word.....let keep it real in our own way!!!!!