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Business Reporter

ECONET Wireless Zimbabwe says it will continue to grow the country’s music industry by leveraging technology to generate more revenues for musicians.

The commitment comes at a time when music sales by artists have come down, along with musicians’ overall incomes, due to piracy, consumers’ declining disposable incomes and effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Our aim is to avail digital platforms that facilitate the development of media market places and online social interactions.

“Buddie Beatz is one such digital app designed to grow the music industry,” said the country’s leading mobile telecommunications company.

Econet’s commitment follows the launch of Mathias Mhere’s ‘Thanksgiving’ album on the Buddie Beatz platform.

Buddie Beatz has emerged as Zimbabwe’s number one digital music platform that promotes and supports the local arts industry through the digital distribution of local music across Zimbabwe and beyond.

The music application has been growing, with downloads or registrations of over 1.08 million, featuring over 50 000 songs.

Econet said the popular music streaming app presents a unique opportunity for local musicians and content promoters to immediately connect with the millions of Econet customers, as well as millions of Africans across the world.

“Buddie Beatz is accessible to anyone on any network locally and across the world and has brought the best Afro and International music to audiences across the world.

“The available music content cuts across many age groups, giving choice and variety to customers. The most popular genres include Zimdancehall, Urban Grooves, House, Afro-fusion, Sungura and Traditional, Chimurenga and Jazz music,” the company said.

In 2021 alone, over 3 000 artists received an equivalent to US$60,000 as pay-outs for their music being streamed on the platform, demonstrating how Buddie Beatz has begun to play a pivotal role in sustaining the livelihoods of the Zimbabwean artists.

Econet’s partnership with artists on Buddie Beatz, including communication and marketing support, has begun to catapult the reach of partner artists on various media channels, significantly increasing their visibility and popularity.

Over the past few years, technology and the internet have significantly changed the music landscape, transforming the way listeners access music and the way artists connect to their fans.

Musicians have had to embrace the change, adapt to new technologies and have an active, continuously developing and engaging online presence.

Econet says it urges all musicians to optimise their online presence by joining the Buddie Beatz platform to increase their opportunities for growth within the music industry.

The Buddie Beatz application can be downloaded on the Google Playstore and on the Apple App Store.