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Mondo Music's MD Discusses The Company's New Approach and Vision |
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Written by Chisha Folotiya
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Fresh of signing a pressing and distribution deal with popular Zambian artist, Danny; Mondo Music Managing Director has stated that the move is in line with the company's new approach. He took time out to share the vision with us.
"Signing this deal with Danny is part of the new direction that Mondo Music has decided to take this year. Previously, we would only concentrate on releasing music those artists that we have recording contracts with like Shatel, J.K., etc, as well as on the compilation albums like the Sounds Of Zambia series and Rhythm Nation Project. We realise that there is a lot of great music out there being produced by independent musicians like Danny who have not really been able to achieve full potential in terms of their sales of their albums. In return, the Zambian music buyers have been disadvantaged in not being able to buy copies of some music.
"Mondo Music cannot sign recording contracts with all the musicians that we would like to. It's logistically impossible because we have only one studio and it takes each artist time to record their work. That limits the number of albums we can release in a year to four or five and that obviously affects our business. At the same time, we have been losing out as a company from selling some of these great hits that are outside our company. So we have adopted this new approach of pressing and distribution. It allows us to broaden our product range by signing with independent artists to manufacture and sell the albums that they record by themselves. We plan to be sign similar deals with several more artists later on this year."
Folotiya went on to school us by outlining the different types of contracts offered by record companies worldwide, including Mondo Music.
"Up to now, Mondo Music has been signing two types of agreements with artists. Under Exclusive Recording & Songwriting Contracts, artists are provided with studio facilities, and the company covers all recording costs - producer's fees, session's artist fees, backing musicians, instrument hire. The record company is responsible for manufacture of records (CD, cassette tape, vinyl, etc), production of music videos, advertising, marketing and promotion, distribution, accounting. The music produced under a Recording Contract will belongs to the record company and the artist is paid a percentage - called a royalty - for each album sold.
The second type of deal is called a Publishing Agreement. In this type of contract, an artist pays for his own recording and production and then offers the record company the right to publish the music on records. He retains ownership if the music, and the record company is still responsible for marketing as in the Recording Agreement.
"Now we have also gone into Pressing and Distribution Agreements which is very similar to the Publishing Agreement," Folotiya added. "Again, the artist has recorded his own music, keeps the rights, but allows the company to manufacture and distribute records in return for royalties. He is responsible for marketing and promotion, making music videos and everything else." This is the type of deal that artists like Emimen's Shady Records(who signed current rap kingpin 50 Cent) have with bigger record companies that allow them to have greater access to the market.
"We want to position ourselves as a facilitator in Zambia's record industry. In foreign countries like South Africa, an artist like Arthur Mofokete has formed a record company called Triple-9 Records. Their speciality is to find artists, record their music and market them. But when it comes to manufacturing and distribution, Triple-9 will enter into a deal with a major record company like EMI. The bigger record company is able to finance manufacturing of units, and offers greater distribution capacity.
"We welcome more smaller record companies here in Zambia that will feed us with products that we can make and sell on their behalf," Folotiya said.
"There is no way that one record company like Mondo Music can sign and record all the best artists in Zambia. But since we have more outlets selling in our music than anyone else and we get more favourable terms with manufactures and retailers, smaller companies and individual artist can come to us and we can facilitate their albums."
"I must add, however, that since the financial investment in each release is quite hefty, Mondo Music will continue to be very selective in who we deal with," he added. "A bad album that does not sell well is a major loss and we need to get it right more often than not. We are looking for music that is already doing well in the radio charts and for which we can see that there is a demand form the public. We need artists who are mature and serious and able to handle themselves as public figures. People who are determined and professional in their work, and willing to work hard for everything to do well. Most of all, we have to assess the artist and see if they are the type of people that we can work with. I feel that Danny is an artist with great music that we can do great things with and we are looking forward to a good business relationship with him.
"Mondo Music will definitely not sign deals with students still at school. We are a professional company where our employees come to work every day. It would not be fair on our staff to have to work with people who have lessons, lectures and homework. At the same time, it would not be fair on the school children to have their academic careers affected by juggling a music career. I run a school and I know the value of education."
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