Embracing innovative change What’s good my people; we are back with another entertaining yet insightful edition of tjil. Today I would like to applaud Namibian creatives for embracing online platforms to share their shows, via video or through podcasts.
Music and general entertainment news are consumed instantly these days and it can be hard to keep up with the latest music releases as artists appear to be on a music-sharing spree.
It is impressive to see a lot of entertainment shows being launched on platforms like YouTube.
These shows help artists improve their artistry and enlighten music fans on some of the elements they should pay attention to when listening to music.
I call on industry peers and music fans to exploit this avenue more, especially now that social gathering's are discouraged. Reviewing music or launching an entertainment-driven show that tackles the music industry as a whole gives you a chance to become an influencer in this regard. People will start looking to you to find out who is trending musically and what kind of Namibian songs they should add to their playlists.
All of this adds to the growth of our industry.
People who operate in the media space and ultimately introduce the masses to new musical developments always have a huge amount of influence. That is the great thing about being a media practitioner, especially in entertainment circles. You are also a social curator.
My plea is for Namibian’s to support this online content and trend. I understand different people have different preferences but often those who complain about the Namibian art and entertainment industry as stagnating, are the same people who do not consume Namibian content.
We now have Namibian content readily available on a lot of platforms and for these shows to grow they need to be supported. The digital era is about numbers – the more a show is viewed or streamed, the higher its chances of success and longevity. Creatives are doing their part, it is now up to the fans to make sure that they sustain these initiatives by subscribing, watching, streaming and sharing. Support local - I cannot stress this enough.
michael@namibiansu.com