Associations: The drama that never ends

They say that a dream job still requires you to actually work, and for all intents and purposes, showbiz is still a business like any other. The professionals who ply their trade in this industry are not exempt

from the standards applied to other kinds of jobs. Professional bodies are an integral part of this process, and entertainment professionals have made attempts to set these up, with varying levels of success.

With constant wrangling and simmering disquiet however,  Kenyan showbiz associations are yet to get their act together. The incessant drama that revolves around these associations makes for great

headline news, but it does little to streamline the industry.

 Imagine lawyers operating without the Law Society of Kenya or doctors without the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board. Maybe it’s because they don’t consider themselves professionals, but showbiz players have often not treated these associations with the seriousness they deserve.

In developed showbiz industries  that gross billions of  dollars in turnover, associations are a force to reckon with. The 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America (WGAE) strike went down in history as the

mightiest show of power in showbiz labour union history. WGAE is one of the oldest showbiz associations, having bargained for writers in movies, on TV and radio since 1954. The 100-day strike caused

more than 60 TV shows to be shut down, resulting in a drop in ratings and loss of revenue for networks. The strike cost the Los Angeles economy about $3billion as writers, crew, caterers, rental

equipment  operators and consumers all stayed home. Though the strike did little to increase the wages of writers, it prompted the industry to create policies and structures for conflict resolution, which have

benefited all players.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, GOT THE T-SHIRT

DJ Shock, who has extensive  experience in the industry, has been there, done that and bought the T-shirt, having founded various mentorship programmes.

“We need associations to regulate the industry, but getting celebs together is hard. Associations require members to consider themselves equal but the bigger names find it hard to sit at the same table with upcoming artistes,” she says.

Although some professions are more regulated than others, a little order always goes a long way, especially when investors expect a return on investment. Basically, all professional bodies play certain similar roles including:

•  Setting and assessing academic standards for the profession.

•  Providing support for continuing professional development through learning opportunities and tools for recording and planning.

•  Publishing professional journals or magazines and engaging the media in disseminating information pertaining to the profession.

•  Providing networks for professionals to meet.

•  Issuing a code of conduct to guide professional behaviour.

•  Dealing  with complaints against professionals and instituting disciplinary procedures.

•  Engaging  governments in the formulation of  policies that drive the industry in the right direction through collective bargaining. 

Beyond his music, Ringtone has been a vocal agitator, speaking openly on a number of key issues  affecting  the Kenyan industry.

“Artists feel threatened when they see fellow artists gaining ground. People have all manner of grudges because of past dealings. It’s often hard to find a unifying figure that  everyone can trust to push the agenda. Associations always start well, but when things start working out, people begin looking out for their personal interests. There are also some associations that artistes don’t trust because they suspect they were formed with ulterior motives,” he says.

The woes that affect our industry are not unique to Kenya. We spoke to Lemi Paul, a retired DJ and founder of the DJ Association of Uganda :

“We have had quite a number of interested parties that want to fund the association as well as DJs wanting to join, but we are focusing on systems that will grow the industry. We registered the DJ Association of Uganda in 2014, but we still have not gained much ground. Currently, we have the copyright body requiring all music users to have a licence, and DJs are on top of their violators’ list. We are currently in discussions with them to come up with a feasible solution; the fees required are too much for the ordinary DJ. We are also trying to ensure that DJs have professional management that will

transform their hobby into a fully-fledged career. I think we need to see the bigger picture, when people begin to have 10-year plans for their music businesses and careers, they will see the need for associations, I think we are too focused on the here and now.”

 Nonini has been fighting a good fight for many years, demanding justice for artistes. In 2013, he was elected director, representing the audio visual sector at the Performance Rights Society of Kenya

(PRSK), where he was expected to help consolidate the efforts to  collect  royalties and present the plight of artistes in the entertainment industry. He is currently a two-time Top Earner MCSK Royalties Artiste.

“Artists tend to be ignorant of the facts,” he acknowledges. “The Music Industry Association of Kenya has been engaging the government to develop a national music policy  that will streamline the industry, but artistes don’t show up for meetings. There is a proper way of  doing things,  we need to become professional.”

Anto Neosoul is the secretary of the Artistes and performers Association of Kenya, an organisation formed to specifically address artistes grievances.

“Most artistes are just puppets,” he admits. “We dance to the tune of our paymasters, many of whom are just businessmen looking to make money. That’s why it’s so hard to get artistes together. Those who benefit from their ignorance would never allow it to happen. People need to stand on their feet.”

 “We are divided, and a house divided cannot stand. I respect the lone rangers who come out every once in a while to raise issues, but that’s not the way to go. We need solid associations so that we can speak with one voice and straighten out our issues.”

Showbiz  issues always evoke mixed feelings, with players on both sides of the divide fighting, while the majority remain clueless of the issues. Discussions on industry issues are often marked by

accusations and counter-accusations, rumours and half-truths. The only obvious common ground is the lack of vision and direction in forging a united front.

However, until all industry players wake up to the untapped showbiz potential in Kenya, ignore the side shows and sit at the table as equals, and stories like this, documenting the woes in the sector, will continue to be written.