New music production fees under scrutiny

The recently introduced music production fees by the Producers and Audio Engineers Association of Malawi (Paem) have come under scrutiny, with some observers and music enthusiasts calling them prohibitive. Paem has set K1 million as the standard price for production of a song and K1 million for production of a music video. Speaking in an interview, seasoned musician Bishop Chimwemwe Mhango said the association should not have generalised the cost since there are many factors that need to considered that determine the cost of production.

He said: “I think it is not realistic to be honest considering how things are on the ground. They need to have a heart of developing other musicians because doing that across the board would mean that some people will not record. “In Malawi, K1 million is a lot of money.

Let us not run away from the truth.” Mhango said the association needed to consider factors such as the state of studios as some of them have not yet reached a level to be classified as professional studios worthy attracting such fees. “There are various categories of musicians. We have choirs, non-established artists and others playing particular genres.

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You cannot have all those subjected to a similar payment standard. Music production depends on the demands that come with it. Some productions are just straightforward,” said Mhango.

On his part, Mikozi Online lead Bright ‘Excess’ Chiligo said although the idea behind the fee hike may be valid, there was need to consider some specifics which in the end may defeat the drive of improving music in the country. He said: “It is alright to put high value on the production. However, I don’t like the way it has been rolled out.

They were supposed to engage both established artists and up-and-coming artists in the discussion before coming up with the standard price. “Standards need to be something that a majority can meet.” But the newly-elected Paem president Percy ‘Pro Pee’ Manyozo said they considered a lot of things when coming up with the standard price. “The adjustment will bring about stability and change in the quality and standards of our productions and business. We will make sure that we upgrade each other so that every producer in Malawi earns the required skills level,” he said.

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