Every December 31 has become the day for the proclamation of results for the music sector with the disc of the year competitions, especially for the local category. If Les Zilwa is popular on four channels and The Prophecy on another, the big winners remain the radio stations. They make profits while the artists celebrate this ephemeral glory with firecrackers. The rights holders of these songs lose out all the way.
And this is where there is room for debate! So let’s not miss the target by shooting ourselves in the foot. The style, the tempo, the theme are secondary; we are talking here about income from the exploitation of a work. For more than ten years, with the opening of the airwaves to private radio stations, the record of the year competition has allowed telephone operators and radio stations to make a profit on the works of publishers, without any consultation or involvement of rights holders.
In this case, this competition, which includes direct commercial action, with a higher price for SMS and private partner-sponsors with gifts to listeners, openly exploits the rights holders of each title. Their silence may seem complicit. Whoever says nothing consents. This system persists because publishers do not stand together against this exploitation, as many prefer to cultivate a cordial relationship with radio stations to have constant broadcasting throughout the year.
And the competition becomes a favor, a return of the favor. We are in a model of amateurism which hinders actions towards the professionalization of this industry. In this momentum of change that has swept over our country since November 11, 2024, it is time that we question the functioning of this competition and learn lessons from it. And this, to then think about how to achieve a win-win situation for all parties concerned.
There are several avenues to venture to define a progressive plan so that artists and publishers win in this process. The main points to explore: a universal disc of the year competition. A single list of songs for all radios. A centralized voting system. Several categories for local works. Cash prizes for the first three winners in each category. Service contracts with local radio stations. On-air spaces for the winners’ events on the radio stations.
Finally, the participation of the winners in the national celebrations – independence, Festival Internasional Kreol… May the big winner (in each category) be the ambassador of Mauritius music for a year. Supported by the State (Ministry of Arts and Culture, Ministry of Tourism) and the private sector, he will promote our island through his music.
May this competition be an opportunity where radio stations, telephone operators and artists (rights holders) work together to reap the benefits of this collaboration in a fair and equitable manner. This action would be a strong contribution to the construction of a music industry which means business. In the garden of notes and chords, everyone will find their style, their rhythm to make their playlist for 2025. Everyone has their own song, their own artist of the year. We are free to make our choices. In the context of a competition, it’s different music. Where coins ring, it must ring true in our wallets!
