Artists and music industry players are optimistic the industry will grow into a powerful force both regionally and globally. This was said at the just ended workshop on implementing the copyright society provisions of Botswana's new copyright Act held in Gaborone International Convention Centre in Gaborone. At the workshop, it was revealed the Copyright society will be made created andserve as a Colleting society.

Chris 'Manto Seven' Mwachisenga, a rhumba artist, who won the best music video at the recently held Botswana Musicians Union awards, hailed the workshop as a sign that our music industry is growing. "We need a working copyright law and society, which will help us as artistes to get what has always been due us, things like royalties," said Mwachisenga. "As artistes we spend a lot of time and energy to come up with masterpieces. This needs to be rewarded. I am quite happy to be witness to this great transformation in our industry."

At the workshop, it was agreed that it was high time radio stations paid artists royalties for playing their music.

Andrew Sanders, who specialises in copyright law, responded to a question from the floor and said making radios pay royalties would lead to a situation where radio disc jockeys played foreign music only. He pointed out that radio stations are there to make money on advertising. "They use music to hold their listeners captive as an audience and in the process give them adverts," said Sanders. "People are comfortable listening to what and who they relate to than foreigners, hence you should tell this to radio stations."

Dwilila 'Bulldogg' Motshosi, a local artist, complained that the present state of affairs in the industry is worrisome as artists have to grapple with unscrupulous radio DJs who want to be paid for playing their music. He said that the copyright society would go a long way in ensuring that artists are protected. "If we are going to keep bribing DJs, what is going to happen to those who can't afford to pay for their music to be played?" Bulldogg asked. "They will be doomed of course. I think we should speed up the process towards making sure that the copyright society is up and running soon in Botswana." Kabelo Mogwe, lead singer of the award-winning Culture Spears, told Showbiz that although a song is not tangible or cannot be shown physically, it is important and needs to be protected against pirates who make it their business to abuse artistes who work to earn a living.

"This workshop empowers us as artists to work towards improving our livelihoods and to continue creating more works fearlessly knowing that we are protected. I encourage fellow artists to embrace this concept and to work tirelessly in making sure the copyright society becomes a powerful tool," he said.