Manager-cum Producer and President of the Urban Grooves Association (UGA) Joe Machingura has cried foul at attempts by Simukai Mandizvidza aka Abra Simz, the USA-based executive producer of African Based Recording Artists (A.B.R.A), to have his artiste Shinso sign a contract which he described as a daylight robbery.
^ Caught In between. Shinso (centre), Abra Simz (left) and Joe Machingura.
In an interview with Zimbo Jam, Joe said that he wanted to present the contract to his lawyers for verification. Asked if he would sign the contract in the event that his Lawyers okayed its provisions, he argued that he will still not allow Shinso to be part of the agreement.
“I am not going to sign this contract; I am presenting it to my lawyers today and even if they tell me to sign I won’t sign it I am simply giving them to verify it,” said Joe.
A furious Machingura blasted Simz whom he said undermined his role as Shinso’s mentor after the latter approached the rising Mbambamba star without full knowledge of his manager. “It was unprofessional of him to approach Shinso without consulting me, “he said.
It is alleged that Abra Simz who is currently in Harare approached Shinso at Red Fox and asked him if he could ride his riddims. Shinso referred Abra to his manager Joe who claimed the USA based producer later came to his studios with contract in hand.
Zimbo Jam is in possession of some of the clauses which Joe described as “controversial in nature” and in particular clause no.7 that reads; “The artist will be allowed to keep his/her personal manager if artist has one already but for strictly consultative purposes and in no circumstances will the manager make any administrative decisions that are against the proposed agreement and against ABRA Tribe Constitution.”
Joe argued that the section stripped him of all the powers as a manager to Shinso pointing that in the event that Shinso signed the document Abra will have overall control of his artiste.
“Once we sign this contract,” said an emotional Machingura, throwing the papers away, “I won’t have control as a manager over Shinso because all the powers will be vested in him [Abra]. He should not come to exploit artists.”
Machingura urged Abra to give accolades to Zimbabwean music rather than take advantage of what has been laid down before him, “He should come to complement and not to exploit what others have done before.
“What he needs to understand is that Shinso was not picked from the streets he was groomed.”
Machingura, who doubles as co-director and co-producer of HeshMfesh Records pointed out another clause in the contract which provides that, “License of use of name and image. Upon timely occurrence and performance of all material events and obligations required to produce the recording Artist shall grant to the company the exclusive license to use the name”……. (Artist)...” and the Artist’s photographic image, in the promotion and distribution of the recording”, was very offensive to the artist who would risk being exploited by bogus recording organisations who are there to take advantage of others.
When contacted for comment Abra argued that his intention was not to sign Shinso under his recording company and he actually okayed any decision taken by Joe, “I only wanted him to record with us I didn’t want him to sign under us. Its fine if they don’t sign,” he said.
In the event that Shinso signs hence he will have to give up certain liberties Clause 7 of the contract reads; “In the event that this contract is signed it also means that you will adhere to the ABRA TRIBE way of doing business and therefore falling under abra tribe management.”
Shinso has not signed, yet.
From Zimbo Jam by Anozivashe Shumba
^ Caught In between. Shinso (centre), Abra Simz (left) and Joe Machingura.
In an interview with Zimbo Jam, Joe said that he wanted to present the contract to his lawyers for verification. Asked if he would sign the contract in the event that his Lawyers okayed its provisions, he argued that he will still not allow Shinso to be part of the agreement.
“I am not going to sign this contract; I am presenting it to my lawyers today and even if they tell me to sign I won’t sign it I am simply giving them to verify it,” said Joe.
A furious Machingura blasted Simz whom he said undermined his role as Shinso’s mentor after the latter approached the rising Mbambamba star without full knowledge of his manager. “It was unprofessional of him to approach Shinso without consulting me, “he said.
It is alleged that Abra Simz who is currently in Harare approached Shinso at Red Fox and asked him if he could ride his riddims. Shinso referred Abra to his manager Joe who claimed the USA based producer later came to his studios with contract in hand.
Zimbo Jam is in possession of some of the clauses which Joe described as “controversial in nature” and in particular clause no.7 that reads; “The artist will be allowed to keep his/her personal manager if artist has one already but for strictly consultative purposes and in no circumstances will the manager make any administrative decisions that are against the proposed agreement and against ABRA Tribe Constitution.”
Joe argued that the section stripped him of all the powers as a manager to Shinso pointing that in the event that Shinso signed the document Abra will have overall control of his artiste.
“Once we sign this contract,” said an emotional Machingura, throwing the papers away, “I won’t have control as a manager over Shinso because all the powers will be vested in him [Abra]. He should not come to exploit artists.”
Machingura urged Abra to give accolades to Zimbabwean music rather than take advantage of what has been laid down before him, “He should come to complement and not to exploit what others have done before.
“What he needs to understand is that Shinso was not picked from the streets he was groomed.”
Machingura, who doubles as co-director and co-producer of HeshMfesh Records pointed out another clause in the contract which provides that, “License of use of name and image. Upon timely occurrence and performance of all material events and obligations required to produce the recording Artist shall grant to the company the exclusive license to use the name”……. (Artist)...” and the Artist’s photographic image, in the promotion and distribution of the recording”, was very offensive to the artist who would risk being exploited by bogus recording organisations who are there to take advantage of others.
When contacted for comment Abra argued that his intention was not to sign Shinso under his recording company and he actually okayed any decision taken by Joe, “I only wanted him to record with us I didn’t want him to sign under us. Its fine if they don’t sign,” he said.
In the event that Shinso signs hence he will have to give up certain liberties Clause 7 of the contract reads; “In the event that this contract is signed it also means that you will adhere to the ABRA TRIBE way of doing business and therefore falling under abra tribe management.”
Shinso has not signed, yet.
From Zimbo Jam by Anozivashe Shumba
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