06 Jun 2013

The use of music cassettes in the local market is slowly but surely fading away as new technologies such as Compact Discs (CDs), Digital Video discs (DVDs), and memory sticks take centre stage.

The latest technology of memory sticks, CD players, free music download sites and Music Boxes have resulted in some local artists not recording their music on cassettes anymore, thereby rendering them obsolete. 

A BOPA survey around the City of Francistown shows that most cassette dealers sell foreign music, particularly from Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Mr Nyaladzi Mudongo says when he started selling cassette music in Francistown from in 1993, his business was booming because CDs and DVDs and memory sticks were not in use.

However, today, he orders around 150 music cassettes from South Africa but they do not sell as local artists no longer produce them.

Mr Mudongo blames latest technology of memory sticks as the reason for the decline of the cassette market.

He says most people buy one disc and uploads into a computer; from there the music is downloaded into memory sticks and transferred around many people.

"People who buy cassettes are mostly adults and in a month you can sell only two cassettes” Mudongo says.

Mr Islam Mamun, the manager of Pralad Holdings, says they do not sell cassettes or cassette players anymore because most of their customers buy CD’S only.

For his part, youthful Olebogeng Moloi says there are currently no cassette players in the market as such he has resolved to buy CD’S only.

The last time he bought a cassette was in 2000 but nowadays he has many options as a result of latest technology.

Another retailer, Mr Itsing Boitshoko sells cassettes from foreign artist while locally he sells only CD’S because local artists produce CD’S and DVD’S only.

He laments piracy and latest technology of music boxes in the decline of Cassette production and sales.

Mr Boitshoko also sells clothing merchandise in addition to CD’S to keep his business going.

Mr Mudondgo says customer service and good displays is key to their business.

During month ends and holidays, he says, he sells a good number as his cassette go for P35.

Afro Pop artist, Vuvuzela says although cassettes were sold at affordable prices they are no longer appealing to their fans, most of whom are youth.

Vuvuzela says most artists choose not to produce cassettes because the cost of production is high compared to the returns from sales.

Mr Tebogo Nkadile, popularly known as Ras T, of Mazganda.com, says lack of a local cassette manufacturer and a decline in sales has resulted in most artists producing CD’S only. 

Mr Nkadile further emphasizes that even CD’S are being sold at a low rate and as a result they rely on promotional tours and festivals where they sell their CD’S at a low price.

He further says people prefer to visit sites like You Tube where they can listen to their music of choice without any expenses. ENDS