Music technology, industry and intellectual property

Sound and acoustics

Frequency (pitch), amplitude (loudness), harmonics and timbre; room acoustics and reverberation.

Recording and production

Microphones (dynamic and condenser) and placement, multitrack recording, mixing (EQ, compression, reverb, panning), mastering, and file formats (WAV, MP3).

Music industry

Roles: artists, songwriters, producers, managers, promoters, labels, distributors, broadcasters and streaming platforms. Revenue streams: live performance, recordings and streaming, publishing, synchronisation (film and adverts), merchandise.

Intellectual property

• Copyright protects musical works and sound recordings (Zimbabwe's Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act).
• Collecting societies: ZIMURA collects royalties for composers and publishers.
• Piracy and digital copying; licensing; the public domain.

Careers and entrepreneurship

Performance, teaching, composition, sound engineering, music business, music therapy and arts administration; building a brand and marketing through social media.

Policy

Local content quotas on broadcasting supported Zimbabwean music; arts councils and festivals (e.g. HIFA, Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo) promote musicians.

Check yourself

1. What does a compressor do in mixing?
2. Name the organisation that collects royalties for Zimbabwean composers.
3. Give two revenue streams for musicians.