Morocco to give financial backing to music industry

12/01/2009

Under a new decree, the Moroccan government will provide financial assistance to musicians and songwriters who produce Moroccan music.

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 12/01/08

[File] Morocco's performing artists will soon get government subsidies, says Culture Minister Touriya Jabrane.

Moroccan music is about to receive an official boost. The government decided on Thursday (January 8th) to grant financial assistance to Moroccan songsters.

During a weekly cabinet meeting, Culture Minister Touriya Jabrane explained that the measure is aimed at supporting singers, lyricists, composers, distributors, musicians and the promotion of Moroccan song.

Jabrane said laws will be drafted in consultation with Moroccan artists, establishing criteria specific to the type of assistance granted. A committee will also be set up to review applications. Each year some fifteen or so projects will benefit from this support, up to a maximum limit of 300,000 dirhams.

The move comes in response to calls for help by music professionals. Under the terms of the decree, all categories of musicians will be able to receive subsidies to assist them with their work. The measure relates to two aspects of music: songwriting and producing, and the promotion of the Moroccan music industry.

The initiative has been hailed by musicians. Ahmed Alaoui, President of the Moroccan Musicians' Union, said it was high time the government spared a thought for the long-neglected sector. He stressed that officials must also combat piracy to guarantee artists' rights.

Over the last few years, many artists have expressed concern at the impact of piracy on their earnings. "If we don't put a stop to piracy, there will be no one producing songs in Morocco within a few years' time," said singer-songwriter Malek.

Other artists, including singer Hayat Al Idrissi, believe that the biggest problem facing Moroccan singers is distribution, since the Moroccan market lacks a distributor capable of promoting songs abroad.

Arts critic Mohamed Ibrahimi said the culture ministry is partly to blame for the deterioration of the Moroccan songwriting industry, because it has held a large number of international cultural events promoting foreign cultures over Moroccan culture. He also believes the quota for the broadcasting of Moroccan songs on public channels is no higher than 5%.

"The public is constantly being exposed to foreign songs," he said. "This is the direction in which people's tastes are being led, and it is harming Moroccan artists."

Many Moroccans take a nostalgic view of the glory years of Moroccan songwriting during the 1970s, when production was prolific.

Salima Bendou, a student, is hopeful that the Moroccan songwriting industry will prosper and compete with Lebanese and Egyptian songsters. "I'd really like to see other Arab countries taking up Moroccan songs. A few Lebanese Arab singers have already begun singing songs in the Moroccan dialect. That proves the future's bright. We just need production companies to be prepared to go further in this direction," she said.