New music is needed for the 90 percent local quota to work

30 May 2016 |

According to an opinion piece in the IOL, the 90 percent local quota that should be played out on all SABC radio stations will only work if more new local music is given air play.

The article begins by quoting AKA from an interview with Metro FM in 2014. AKA had just returned from a trip to Nigeria and had the following to say, "They are paid in dollars, enjoy high rotation of their music and do not get to play second fiddle in their own country."

This wasn't the only time a SA artist complained about playing second fiddle to international artists in their home country. SA hip hop artist, Kwesta wrote an open letter to 5fm in 2014 requesting that they play more South African music. Casper Nyovest also commented on occasion about how he thinks that it is ridiculous we hear US songs as they are released and that it takes so much longer for SA music to be played on radio.

The article also makes mention that of the amount of money collected from royalties, 1% of that money remains in South Africa.

So if Nigeria's music and film industry enjoys its success due to the country supporting it, would the same work for SA?

It's a question that can not be answered at this point in time. Many South African's are not enjoying the high rotation of the same music and have voiced their opinions on social media, stating that they have made a switch to non-SABC radio stations instead. With that being said, the complaints are not about radio stations playing South African music, but rather the age old annoyance of the same music constantly blasting through the airwaves.