Zambian music producers have called for greater recognition and better pay, saying their contributions to the country’s entertainment industry continue to be overlooked despite playing a major role in creating hit songs.
Speaking in an interview with Lusaka Star, music producer Mzenga Mwale, popularly known as DJ Mzenga Man, said producers remain the foundation of the music industry but are rarely appreciated for their work.
“Producers are the backbone of the music industry, but many of us are still under recognised despite creating the sound behind successful songs,” he said.
Mzenga pointed to veteran producer Jerry Fingers as an example of talent that has contributed immensely to Zambian music without receiving the level of appreciation and financial reward deserved.
His remarks have since sparked wider debate within the entertainment industry, with several producers and audio engineers raising concerns over poor crediting systems, royalties, and lack of industry structure.
Music producer Chanza Kasongo echoed similar sentiments, saying producers and audio engineers are often excluded from the financial success of songs they help create.
“Producers and audio engineers deserve recognition and better pay. We are the backbone of any music industry. Without us, artists are non-existent,” Kasongo said.
He explained that many producers lose income because they lack proper knowledge about publishing rights, copyrights, and royalty systems.
“Most music producers lose money because they don’t understand how the system works,” he said.
Kasongo added that his experience working with international clients helped him better understand how royalties and crediting operate in other countries, knowledge he believes is still lacking locally.
“We still have a long way to go as an industry,” he said. “I now make it a point to educate artists before their music is distributed on digital streaming platforms.”
He further called for industry stakeholders to organise seminars and training sessions aimed at educating creatives about publishing, copyrights, and intellectual property rights.
“Our industry has the potential to compete at a global level,” Kasongo said, “We need to invest in knowledge,” he later added.
As part of efforts to improve awareness, Kasongo revealed that he hosted the “Mic To Mix Masterclass” last year, bringing together producers, audio engineers, songwriters, and artists to discuss industry challenges.
He said another edition of the event is expected later this year, with a stronger focus on royalties, crediting, and intellectual property education.
The growing calls from producers such as DJ Mzenga Man and Chanza Kasongo highlight increasing pressure for reforms within Zambia’s music industry to ensure that producers and audio engineers receive fair recognition and financial benefits for their work.