Platform seeks to market aspiring artistes and protect them from piracy

 

Motorists on Thika Road. Toll fees may be reintroduced on certain roads to pay for maintenance. PHOTO | FILE 

By OLOO WINNIE

In Summary

• He is of the view that with the necessary support, local aspiring artists can be just as successful like established international singers.

Two entrepreneurs have established an online platform to empower aspiring musicians and ensure that they reap from where sow.

Dosika Rising Stars, the brainchild of Sam Kamau and his co-founder Benjamin promises to at least save the artists the headache of sourcing a marker for their songs and even afterwards worrying about music pirating that is rife in the industry.

Mr Kamau, says he was moved by the plight of potential artists who have the talent to make it, but lack the resources and connections to propel them.

As a result they opt to stick to performing in such social events like weddings, funerals and local clubs. It was during one such event that the idea for the platform came about.

“This idea just hit me when I was at a funeral. We were sited, all quiet in a bereaving mood. Then a young man started singing in a most consoling voice. He sang so well that I wondered why I had never came across any of his albums,” says Kamau.

He is of the view that with the necessary support, local aspiring artists can be just as successful like established international singers.

The tragedy facing aspiring artists, he says, it that while there is a ready market for those who have made it, the beginners are not readily accepted.

He says that through Dosika they plan to empower talented musicians to go global by uploading their songs online and getting paid for it.

To be a beneficiary he says, an artist has to sign up in the Dosika Rising Star website, then upload the audio-visual content.

Since the company is a Communications Authority- licensed content service provider, the musicians have to adhere to the set standards before uploading.

Dosika ensures that the content is original and not pornographic as the industry regulatory requirements stipulate.

After establishing that it meets Dosika’s in- house standards by viewing and auditing the content, they then upload it into their websites.

Uploading content on an online platform is not new with millions doing it worldwide. But what Dosika offers differently, according to Mr Kamau is a ready platform and guaranteed quality service to aspiring musicians.

When the content is uploaded, the artists are notified through a link sent to their phones.

They can then access updates on the viewership and automatically calculate their projected income.