SABC TO UP SA MUSIC QUOTA

National broadcaster nails its colours to the mast of South African music.

The national broadcaster has nailed its colours to the mast of South African music.

That was clear during a key presentation by the public broadcaster during the recent Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition in Johannesburg.

In a presentation given by the SABC Head of Group Strategy, Sipho Sithole, the self-imposed new quotas were announced over a three years period. From 2008, the minimum quota of South African music on Public Broadcast platforms will be 60% moving to 65% in 2009 and 70% in 2010.

Sithole also made it clear that simply playing popular South African genres – like kwaito and hip hop – would not suffice in fulfilling the quota. Each of the SABC’s indigenous radio stations would be required to full 40% of their South African music quota with music indigenous to the geographical area they broadcast to.

When it came to Public Commercial Services – like Metrofm and 5fm – the quota would be set at 35% in 2008, 40% in 2009 and 45% in 2010.

Currently the quotas as imposed by ICASA are far lower than the ones that the SABC is now implementing. A presentation from Mamodupi Kgatshe confirmed that PBS stations were required to play 40% South African music while PCS have to play 25%.

Sithole also used his platform to announce that the SABC’s belief in partnership with the likes of Moshito had seen it enter into a three-year media partnership with the conference and exhibition. “We currently have 18 radio stations broadcasting from Moshito which I think shows you how seriously we are taking our support of the South African music industry,” he said.