The Namibia Association composers and Musicians CEO John Max whose organisation paid some artists meagre amounts of below N$2.00 said there is a need to drive the implementation of 70% local content to improve artist plite.
“We have been engaging with line ministry to make sure that the state broadcaster plays a minimum of 70% local content while commercial radio stations should play at least 50% local content,” he said.
His sentiments come at a time when most Namibian musicians were left licking their wounds by a blanket ban on public gatherings inspired by COVID-19.
Max argued that the challenge that the musicians and composers face in Namibia is the failure to get local content played regularly.
The soft-spoken Max said he has a database of more than 70 000 members who are heavily affected by the COVID pandemic.
Places of entertainment are closed where we collect money for the artists while we don’t have regular payments from the radio stations that play artist music,” he said.
Ironically most Namibia artist spearheaded by veteran musician Big Ben has been in a recent wave calling for NASCAM to enforce local content playing on national radios.
The NASCAM boss argued that there is a need for constant stakeholder engagement for the arts and creative industry.
