question What's the Relationship between Zimdaansaal Artists and Zim Celebs TV?

[Bla Jedza]

Looking at things from a music business standpoint what's the usual arrangement between Zimdancehall artists who work with Zim Celebs TV?

 

[Black Panther]

It's really not that difficult to understand.

The music business relationship between Zim Celebs Instagram or their channel Zim Celebs TV is similar to how Worldstar Hip Hop promotes upcoming new Hip Hop rappers.

The other side of Zim celebs is pretty much a clone of how Instagram blogs work e.g. Instablog9ja, The Shaderoom, Baller Alert etc.

There's nothing original there.

 

[Bla Jedza]

But how come Zimdancehall artists who work with Chillspot Records (DJ Fantan and Levels) don't do the same with their latest Zimdancehall songs?

 

[Black Panther]

But how come Zimdancehall artists who work with Chillspot Records (DJ Fantan and Levels) don't do the same with their latest Zimdancehall songs?

Do you mean promoting their Zimdancehall songs on Zim Celebs TV?

 

[Bla Jedza]

Do you mean promoting their Zimdancehall songs on Zim Celebs TV?

Yes.

 

[Black Panther]

Yes.

If you are an established Zimdancehall artist you don't have to because most music fans in Zimbabwe will definitely know who you are e.g. Winky D, Soul Jah Love, Seh Calaz, Enzo Ishall, Bazooker, Boss Pumacol etc.

They don't really need Zim Celebs TV promo.

 

[Numero Uno]

What happens to the money earned when those Zimdancehall videos are monetized by Zim Celebs TV. Does it go to Zimdancehall artists themselves or the deal is for Zim Celebs TV to keep it as payment?

 

[Black Panther]

What happens to the money earned when those Zimdancehall videos are monetized by Zim Celebs TV. Does it go to Zimdancehall artists themselves or the deal is for Zim Celebs TV to keep it as payment?

I wouldn't know much about Zim Celebs TV payment arrangements with Zimdancehall artists. But if a Zimdancehall video is setup for online music distribution then YouTube will place a Content ID claim on it.

So the money will be paid to the corresponding Zimdancehall artist as music royalty payments.

 

[Queen]

I wouldn't know much about Zim Celebs TV payment arrangements with Zimdancehall artists. But if a Zimdancehall video is setup for online music distribution then YouTube will place a Content ID claim on it.

So the money will be paid to the corresponding Zimdancehall artist as music royalty payments.

What are performance royalties in the Music industry?

 

[Black Panther]

What are performance royalties in the Music industry?

Performance royalties is revenue that is derived from the exploitation (or the use) of music in a form of plays on Radio, TV broadcasts, Live performances and online music streaming platforms (e.g. Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer, YouTube, Dailymotion, Amazon Music e.t.c).

 

[Queen]

How are performance royalties collected?

 

[Black Panther]

How are performance royalties collected?

Performance royalties are collected by music institutions called "performance rights organizations" on behalf of songwriters, composers and music publishing companies.

In addition, each country has it's own performance rights organization to serve the needs of artists and music publishing companies.

For an artist or music publishing company to receive their entitled performance royalties they have to be affiliated with a Performance Rights Organization otherwise they will miss out on revenue they would have received if they had done so accordingly.

 

[Queen]

How are music performance royalties paid out?

 

[Black Panther]

How are music performance royalties paid out?

These royalties are paid out when a performance rights organization sends money in correspondence to song ownership regarding the writer's share and the publisher's share.

That's because in the context of music publishing copyrights a song consists of two parts, which are the writer's share and the publisher's share.

If an artist writes their own music and releases it without being affiliated with any music publishing company except their own. It means that an artist in question will be entitled to both the writer's share and the publisher's share income.

But if an artist has a deal with a music publishing company e.g. a co-publishing agreement this means that artist will be entitled to receive all their income from a writer's share perspective and 50% of their publisher's share because the other half of the publisher's share would go to a music publishing company.

 

[Numero Uno]

How do recording artists move from one record label to another, e.g. when a recording artist is signed to an indie record label then they make a transition to a major record label.

 

[Black Panther]

How do recording artists move from one record label to another, e.g. when a recording artist is signed to an indie record label then they make a transition to a major record label.

In cases like that, a major music recording company will approach whatever indie record label the artist is signed to at the moment usually by making a proposal to buy out a recording contract via their subsidiary (or in other words through their subordinate record company).

So a parent music company let's say, "Major Record X" can literary instruct their subordinate record company say, "Subsidiary Record Label Y" to purchase a recording contract for an "Artist Named ABC" from their current deal with "Indie Record label Z."

Once an agreement is reached, Indie Record label Z will sell their record deal with Artist Named ABC to Subsidiary Record Label Y, which of course will be a wholly-owned division of Major Record X.

Or sometimes Indie Record label Z can suggest a partnership (e.g. joint venture deal), that's why you will probably see, Artist Named ABC, music copyright credits appearing as — © Indie Record label Z/Subsidiary Record Label Y, distributed by Major Record X.

 

[Queen]

Don't many Zimdancehall artists in Zimbabwe sign both a record label deal and a management deal with the same team?

 

[Black Panther]

Don't many Zimdancehall artists in Zimbabwe sign both a record label deal and a management deal with the same team?

There are Zimdancehall artists who have done that, worse still some Zimdancehall artists continue to do that.

In reality it's not advisable to have a record contract and a management deal under a same company.

Your music record company you have a deal with shouldn't serve as your music manager (and vice versa). Doing so is a sign of bad business practice.

 

[Bla Jedza]

Do you need an MBA to start a record label?

 

[Black Panther]

Do you need an MBA to start a record label?

The short answer is you DON'T need to have an MBA from a top graduate business school to start your own record label because an MBA doesn't address the key fundamentals of intellectual property as it relates to the music business.

Intellectual property is the heart of the music business and this is where an MBA program falls short because it will only give you a general overview introduction to running a company without specifically addressing a particular field such as the music industry.

However, enrolling for an MBA program comes with some benefits because you will gain knowledge and insights about things such as:

• How to Professionally Manage a Business
• Networking Skills
• Branding & Marketing Skills
• Budgeting & Project Planning Skills
• The Art of Financing a Business (e.g. Debt or Equity Financing)

So if there is anything that you really need besides getting an MBA degree to start a record label (or record company) it's definitely CAPITAL and enough MOTIVATION to sit down and understand things like:

• Music Copyrights and Music Licensing (or intellectual property)
• Music Publishing
• Music Distribution
• Merchandising and Music Marketing

The Opportunity Cost of Spending Money On An MBA Program​

Opportunity cost is something that is often overlooked by most people when making financial decisions in their lives.

For example, in this case, the money that you would spend on student loans or paying for an MBA program you could actually use that as capital for starting your record label.

Remember fortune favors the bold and if there's no risk in any venture chances are there isn't quite frankly, any profit to made either.

So the question you should ask yourself is, "How does the opportunity cost of spending money on something you can possibly learn through self-education or via YouTube tutorials worth thousands of dollars yet you are in need of that capital to hit the ground running?"

On the other hand, if money isn't an issue at all then you absolutely have the luxury to fund your MBA program while at the same time investing some of your money into your record label.

Now ain't that a good thing? Of course, yes! But it's not too many people that have that type of privilege you know.