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POY

Bongani Ndlovu Entertainment Correspondent
BULAWAYO artistes are looking forward to a local commercial radio station  being licensed, saying more stations in the sector would level the playing field.
Artistes in the city and elsewhere in Matabeleland have had a long-standing complaint that their music was not getting adequate airplay on public radio stations.  Their upbeat views came a day after the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (Baz) announced it was processing 21 applications, with Bulawayo and Matabeleland North provinces having nine applications in total.

Imbube artistes, Impumelelo Shining Stars front man, Oscar Siziba said yesterday the development was good. He said artistes had heaps of albums that have not been played on the radio.

“The content that these radio stations will generate will be for the Bulawayo and Matabeleland market. I think for us as the artistes it is a positive development as this will enable us to be played,” he said.

Five applications have been sent to Baz from Bulawayo, two from Lupane and another two from Victoria Falls.
Rapper POY said the radio stations would bring diversity to the airwaves and create an opportunity for people in Bulawayo to listen to their locally produced music.

He said as artistes they would be able to walk into studios and release albums and singles.
“In Harare the artistes have a privilege of having six radio stations located there. They can easily get the airplay they need. So the coming of these radio stations is a positive development for us,” said POY.

Simunye Simunye group member Larington Mudere said as performing artistes the presence of a radio station in the city, would enable them to have national, regional and international recognition.

“This is a positive step and we welcome it as Simunye. Having radio stations will enable us to have recognition from many quarters especially nationally and internationally,” said Mudere.

The deadline for submission was on January 7 for local commercial radio stations.
Baz chief executive officer, Obert Muganyura said one licence will be issued in each area but approval was not automatic in areas for applicants from areas where no one else has expressed interest.

Amakhosi Studios have applied for two, one operating from Bulawayo as Skyz Metro Fm and the other in Victoria Falls, Breeze FM.