Recenty I spotted a forum debate on Biz Community about South African music and why there are quotas for local music on local radio stations. The debate also raised the issue of why international and especially American music dominates.
http://www.biz-community.com/Forum/196/11/15863.html
There are two answers to this question and they are flip sides of the same coin. SA music buying public do not buy SA music out of choice compared with international. There are exceptions with some acts selling many albums in the SA market but most of the SA buying public buy internaternational without even really thinking.
SA bands and music acts are not motivated sufficiently to raise their level of performance and sound once they have achieved some success in SA. Being a big fish in a small pond is better than taking a chance, going overseas and not making it.
At home in SA there is a comfort zone for musos and reaching a certain level means that one has made it.
Radio stations do play local but if local is not selling they can't push local at the expense of international which is selling. That's just basic economics.
The solution could lie in more incentives from radio stations, not more idols drama, but incentives for bands to polish their stuff and search out mixing and production that complements and enhances their content and style.
Sounds like a dream, well the Rolling Stones once upon a time used to do Beatles cover versions. Seems like only yesterday but somewhere in SA there's singers and songwriters that could start a trend for SA bands to aim global and redress the balance making quotas apply to international music.
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