Artists march to retain 90% SABC quota

SCRAPPING the 90% local music policy at the SABC is a direct assault on radical economic transformation.

That was the sentiment expressed by various artists, creative workers’ unions and KwaZulu-Natal ANC Youth League leadership at a “Handsoff 90%” march that drew about 500 people in Durban yesterday.

The 90% local music quota was introduced by embattled former SABC chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng exactly a year ago.

While it was lauded as a progressive policy by some, the SABC interim board has proposed that the policy be discontinued as it had serious negative implications for the broadcasters’ finances.

The national co-ordinator of lobby group Friends of Hlaudi, Ernest Moikangoa, slammed the proposal. He accused the board of playing into the hands of “cultural imperialists” by insisting on a status quo that “did not benefit the majority of the country”.

Royalties

“Annually over R500 million leaves SA in royalties, only R70m is paid to local artists. We knew that imperialists will be at the forefront of dismantling what Motsoeneng built at the SABC,” he said.

ANCYL deputy chairperson S’bonelo Mtshali said they supported the artists as the policy spoke directly to radical economic transformation.

“When we don’t change systems in an economy that doesn’t benefit most South Africans, we will continue to have a huge gap between the rich and their poor,” said Mtshali.

Singer Blondie Makhene accused former presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki of failing to transform the country’s economy, specifically the arts. “In 1994, all sectors were freed but no one remembered that our sector needs to be freed as well,” he said.

But Andy Rice, a brand and advertising consultant, did not think the issue was as simple.

He said public service broadcasters globally were facing similar problems as a result of their dual mandate.

“Public broadcasters are expected to make certain contributions to society while being commercially viable, or at least generate enough revenue to make up the shortfall from government contribution.

“Hlaudi can say the policy is part of the SABC mandate, but he shouldn’t implement it at the exclusion of revenue.”

Rice said the SABC was losing revenue as it was obliged to play music that did not appeal to their traditional audience.

“Advertisers walked because the policy changed the ratio of revenue by denying people who want to hear nonSouth African music that they traditionally found on stations like Metro FM and Five FM. Listeners migrated to nonSABC broadcasters and advertisers followed,” Rice said.

A memorandum of demands handed to Úkhozi FM station manager Bonga Mpanza included that the local content policy be maintained.