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‘ASIBE HAPPY’ SONG OF THE YEAR ON EBIS

03/01/2022 08:30:00 BY NONDUMISO MSIBI

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MBABANE - South Africa’s Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa song featuring Amu Faku ‘Asibe Happy’ ushered EBIS listeners to 2022 on Friday night.

Unlike other years, where there is always one popular song being the favourite to be song of the year almost everywhere, this year things were different, it appears as if the different radio stations have their different song of the years, depending on the tribes which they cover or represent as a majority. Not sure if this indicate a high level of competition in the music industry or a decline in terms of artists who produces heats. Also known as the radio charts, the Top 20 returned last Friday at 8pm, with 20 new entries dominated by music from Eswatini.

The show which airs on Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS) is back to being presented by the popular double impact team of Bongani Bobo Dlamini and Bongani ‘Tizalami’ Dube following the return of the former having taken a two-year sabbatical to pursue further studies. In his absence, the show had been steered by Lindelwa Lindz Mafa and ‘Tizalami’.

Whether you are an artist, manager, a music business entrepreneur, you will need to focus on what music charts are and how they work. Charts can turn music from an under-the-radar creation into an acclaimed piece of art, thanks to plays on radio airplay stations, social media rankings, digital downloads, streams on music streaming services, and more. Music charts tell most people what to listen to and where the whole music industry is going for the time being.

Charts are forever adapting to the music industry. Many years ago, for example, audiences had to wait for Channel YemaSwati, Eswatini Tv or Channnel O to play music videos, or for EBIS local radio station to play songs that would lead music lovers to buy cassette tapes to listen on repeat. Popularity nowadays is largely based on streams, YouTube views and even social media influence… so how have charts incorporated this into their rankings?

Presenters

Explaining how the chart show is compiled, the presenters of Double Impact, Tizalami and Mafa said the charts are typically reflective of what’s currently popular and on heavy rotation across various radio stations in Eswatini and in the SADC region. Various radio stations in the region share their weekly charts in the Music Compilers Group, and post these on their websites and social media pages. These ratings are then assessed by each station, with respective presenters empowered to use objective discretion to rate the music. “This model is used by almost all major radio stations in the region, the likes of MetroFM, Ukhozi FM, Ligwalagwala FM, YFM, Botswana’s Yarona FM, Zimbabwe’s StarFM, among others,” explained Dube.

For radio, the primary focus is the listener; hence the chart show scans all popular shows to ascertain what the listener wants not what the artist wants. However, said the presenters, the chart show takes a deliberate stance to promote local music by ensuring that an unofficial 75 per cent quota is reserved for local music in the charts. “This is why we will always have some few tracks from outside Eswatini making it to the charts, so as to truly reflect the popular (pop) culture that’s obtaining on the ground in Eswatini. Pop culture is influenced not just by radio, but by music that’s played at recreational places like clubs; music that is heavily downloaded from online sites; music that’s played at parties (including the virtual lockdown parties on tv), etc,” he said.

Dube added, “That is why while South African radio stations like MetroFM would have the likes of Beyonce etc. on their Top 40 charts, but still ensure there are more South African songs on their charts, as they are in the South African territory. Likewise, we have few South African and American songs but we ensure the bulk is local as we want our locals to compete neck-on-neck with their global compatriots. In all honesty, the digital era we are in has fast tracked globalisation, hence music shows, including chart shows cannot be an island on their own. Listeners’ preferences are wide and vast, and they have to be respected while tactfully influencing loyalty to local as well.”