Music producer and manager Luyolo Beku is the new record label boss at the Eastern Cape Audio Visual Centre (ECAVC) Records.
Beku is renowned for putting Metro FM Award winning singer Berita on the map.
He is also currently managing Mount Ayliff-born afro-soul singer, Lilitha Bidla, who was recently nominated for her first South African Traditional Music Award.
Beku takes over from jazz artist Nduduzo Makhathini, who has joined the University of Fort Hare’s music department.
Beku said as the new manager the label would be going back to basics.
“The mandate of the record label has always been to empower record labels in the province and to ensure that artists are equipped with the necessary skills to be able to stand on their own,” he said.
Beku said they would be reviewing some of the artists currently signed under the label.
“We will be having an artist support programme which will see us give studio time to some artists and also working closely with the small record labels in the province.”
In moving forward, Beku said they would focus on releasing singles instead of albums.
“Singles are what drives artists. Through one song an artist is able to get bookings all over. This is the same formula that most artists are using all over.
“I did it for Berita and she was getting bookings for her hit single, Thandolwethu. I know things won’t be the same here but this is worth trying even here,” he said.
Beku said by December he hoped to have released two singles on high rotation on national radio stations.
He added he would address some of the challenges artists faced.
“We have a lot of problems with aspiring artists, some of them do not take their craft seriously. Artists need to be coached and we need to release material that sells,” he said.
ECAVC director Sy Ntuli said they were excited to have Beku join the label.
“We have been watching him and what he has been doing in his label. He is the guy behind Berita’s success, he has pushed her and made her the little star that she is today. There is also Lilitha who is doing well,” he said.
Ntuli said Makhathini and the late Sisa Sopazi, who was the marketing manager, did a great job in getting the label to where it was now.
“They released eight albums that did well. Luyolo is coming to a record label that has done well. His job is to take the label to the next level,” Ntuli said. — poliswap@dispatch.co.za
EC music producer to unearth more talent
Beku is renowned for putting Metro FM Award winning singer Berita on the map.
He is also currently managing Mount Ayliff-born afro-soul singer, Lilitha Bidla, who was recently nominated for her first South African Traditional Music Award.
Beku takes over from jazz artist Nduduzo Makhathini, who has joined the University of Fort Hare’s music department.
Beku said as the new manager the label would be going back to basics.
“The mandate of the record label has always been to empower record labels in the province and to ensure that artists are equipped with the necessary skills to be able to stand on their own,” he said.
Beku said they would be reviewing some of the artists currently signed under the label.
“We will be having an artist support programme which will see us give studio time to some artists and also working closely with the small record labels in the province.”
In moving forward, Beku said they would focus on releasing singles instead of albums.
“Singles are what drives artists. Through one song an artist is able to get bookings all over. This is the same formula that most artists are using all over.
“I did it for Berita and she was getting bookings for her hit single, Thandolwethu. I know things won’t be the same here but this is worth trying even here,” he said.
Beku said by December he hoped to have released two singles on high rotation on national radio stations.
He added he would address some of the challenges artists faced.
“We have a lot of problems with aspiring artists, some of them do not take their craft seriously. Artists need to be coached and we need to release material that sells,” he said.
ECAVC director Sy Ntuli said they were excited to have Beku join the label.
“We have been watching him and what he has been doing in his label. He is the guy behind Berita’s success, he has pushed her and made her the little star that she is today. There is also Lilitha who is doing well,” he said.
Ntuli said Makhathini and the late Sisa Sopazi, who was the marketing manager, did a great job in getting the label to where it was now.
“They released eight albums that did well. Luyolo is coming to a record label that has done well. His job is to take the label to the next level,” Ntuli said. — poliswap@dispatch.co.za
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