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Hlaudi to tackle payola

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Hlaudi Motsoeneng. Picture: File
Hlaudi Motsoeneng. Picture: File

The SABC’s chief operations officer and acting CEO, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, said the broadcaster was cracking down on its radio music compilers who were allegedly taking bribes from musicians desperate to have their songs played on air.

For years, musicians have accused some music compilers at the public broadcaster of taking what is known as “payola” from other recording artists.

On Friday, Motsoeneng told City Press that since being appointed acting CEO at the SABC, many musicians had complained to him about amounts of at least R20 000 they had been forced to pay to music compilers.

He also knew the names of some of the music compilers accused of taking bribes, but declined to name them because the matter was still being investigated.

“I cannot ignore [it] when people come to me and complain about bribery. I have to do something about it. After introducing 90% [local content policy], we’ve been investigating SABC employees who are taking bribes.”

On Thursday, at a music conference at the SABC’s studios, Motsoeneng told more than 50 musicians that he would “deal with” music compilers who demanded payola.

Among those who attended were gospel singer Deborah Fraser, kwaito musician Arthur Mafokate, jazz legend Don Laka and poet Mzwakhe Mbuli.

Motsoeneng appealed to anyone who paid bribes to come forward.

“If you’ve paid [a] bribe, don’t be afraid to speak out. We’ll deal with the culprits. We are paying music compilers to do their job; no one is allowed to pay for his or her music to be on air.”

Gospel singer William Mthethwa claimed at the conference that he had paid bribes at Lesedi FM and Ukhozi FM for his music to get radio airtime.

Last month, Ukhozi FM DJ Vukani “Chilli M” Masinga found himself without a job because of payola. Chilli M was showed the door after admitting to having accepted bribes.

In November last year, an investigation by eNCA’s current affairs show, Checkpoint, exposed Ikwekwezi FM music compiler, Irvin Kekana, after he took money from different artists to play their music.

Music consultant Vusi Leeuw applauded Motsoeneng, saying it was time that payola, which “was practised for many years”, was discussed in the public domain.

He said although he had never paid payola, he knew a few people who did.

“Payola is equivalent to being a drug addict. You have to pay for your fix. What happens the day you don’t have money for your music to be on air?”

He said musicians should stop complaining about dying poor.

“There is no difference between piracy and payola. Payola is killing our music industry,” he said.

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