By Elias Omondi
Lovers of Kenyan music in diaspora can now access latest Kenyan music online. Artistes available through the new KenTunes website include, Kayamba Afrika, Milele, Zannaziki, Joseph Kamaru, Bana Kadori, Maroon Commandos and K-South.
The website, which boasts over 100 Kenyan albums, is expected to be a hit among Kenyans living in the diaspora. The new website, that was created to help local musicians derive financial benefit from selling their music on the Internet was launched recently.
It is a deliberate initiative to enhance the accessibility and visibility of Kenyan music in the crowded digital sites and provide a platform for Kenyan music that is not currently available to most artistes in Kenya.
"Our website allows artistes to think global when it comes to selling their music," said Kevin Muthuri, one of the founders. "Kenyan musicians can depend on us to deliver their locally available albums across geographical boundaries."
L-R: Kevin Muthuri and David Makali after the deal. |
Unlike most online music stores, artists can also track the sale of their albums downloaded through the website and receive proceeds from their sales locally. "Musicians do not have to wait for payments from overseas or cash cheques drawn in foreign currency that take weeks to clear," Muthuri said.
The idea for KenTunes grew out of the need for an exclusive and comprehensive online music store promoting Kenyan albums. Rather than Kenyan artists having to rely on the manufacture and shipment of their albums, they built a custom-made download store where fans can directly purchase and download Kenyan music.
Leading Kenyan record label and world music distributor Soundafrica has signed out its entire catalogue to be distributed digitally on the Kentunes site.
