Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Ruth Butaumocho
9 October 2008
Harare — Barely a year after their re-introduction, Gramma Records and the Zimbabwe Music Corporation music awards would not be held this year due to lack of funds and depressed sales of released albums.
Once popular with musicians, the awards were discontinued in 1989 at the request of some musicians who did not want their earnings to be known and were revived last year and 17 artists were honoured for coming up tops based on record sales.
Gramma Records and ZMC spokesperson Helen Venganai said the music awards would not be held this year due to lack of funds and depressed sales of albums released by most musicians.
"The event will not be held this year because we faced many challenges and these included depressed sales as a result of cash shortages.
"We however remain optimistic that the situation may improve and we will certainly continue with the honourable initiative we had revived to express our gratitude to our artists on the good job they are doing" she said.
Some of the musicians who won the awards in the past include the late Paul Matavire, Leornard Zhakata, the late John Chibadura, Zexie Manatsa, superstar Oliver Mtukudzi and the late James Chimombe.
The decision by Gramma and ZMC does not come as a surprise as business by some recording companies has plummeted in the last few years as most people now opt to buy out basic commodities whenever they lay their hands on cash, instead of buying CDs, considered to be a luxury
Piracy also contributed to recording companies demise, where some scrupulous individuals were now downloading music of local musicians and selling it for a song, taking away most of the business from legal dealers. Several musicians have fallen victim to this illegal activity.
Piracy is the unauthorised reproduction or manufacturing of material protected by copyright and dealing with such copies for distribution and sale.
It is estimated that one in three music and film discs purchased around the world is an illegal copy.
In 2005, pirate CD sales outnumbered legitimate sales in more than 20 countries around the world.
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