Tshego Not Impressed With Amapiano Artists Messing Up Booking Rates
Tshego Not Impressed With Amapiano Artists Messing Up Booking Rates. Times in South Ah are tough because of the current economic climate and the COVID-19 pandemic has not made things any easier. SA Hip Hop artists have taken a financial knock due to the lockdown restrictions which paused gigs. While the restrictions have eased and artists are being booked to perform at gigs, things are no longer the same. Booking rates are being adjusted and it seems not everyone is earning the same bag that they used to and not everyone is impressed with this.
Tshego recently shared on his Instagram stories about how he was offered R10 000 to perform for an hour. The rapper was not impressed with the rate and made this public. While airing out his frustrations, the No Ties, hitmaker shared a request directed to Amapiano artists, who Tshego feels are behind the drop in the booking rates. Amapiano artists are among the most booked musicians currently in the country due to the genre popularity. “1 thing I will ask of amapiano guys. Please don’t fuck up the booking rates. For the love of God,” wrote Tshego.
Tshego was definitely not feeling the amount he was being offered to perform for and was clearly left in disbelief. While some artists would be okay with the 10K, Tshego asked, is “this how y’all living” in his post. The popular SA Hip Hop artist in his post even added that perhaps the rate was meant for hosting and not, an actual performance. “I’m being asked to do an hour for 10K. I could die. In what f**king world, on what drugs. This how y’all living??? Surely you mean 10K to host for an hour? F**king hell,” wrote Tshego on his post.
On the latest episode of the popular SA Hip Hop culture podcast, POPcast, the hosts touched on Tshego sentiments of the imbalance in booking rates, that has now been created with the rise of amapiano. Guest panellist DJ Double D agreed with Tshego’s views and expressed that this is something that is happening in the market currently. Sipho shared that amapiano artists have put a dent in the market.
“I’ve heard directly from artists, I’ve heard from promoters, I’ve heard from managers as well, a lot of guys have complained especially in Hip Hop, saying oh man you guys have put a dent in the market because the promoters are always going to try and take advantage. They want to cut costs where they can, regardless of Covid, they’re always trying to… Negotiate and now because of Covid, they’re taking extra advantage because okes are going to be desperate for bookings. Everyone was sitting at home doing nothing now it’s time to earn and of course, amapiano artists know that they’re hot they can do 20 gigs in a weekend,… They’re just thinking the total at the end will be worth it,” shared Sipho.
