Books :: The Middleman with Power by Phumzile Zonke

EXPLOITATION IN THE MEDIA AND CREATIVE ARTS INDUSTRIES From former SABC Head of Channel Phumzile Zonke comes a brave step of advocacy and empowerment that equips aspiring creative artists and emerging broadcast media professionals with nuanced discussions and strategies to help them overcome #TheMiddlemanWithPower. Amidst all the purported glitz and glamour, the South African showbiz landscape remains a melting pot of two opposing extremes.

On one hand, the enterprises that manage and distribute works of art and own the intellectual property are raking in millions, whereas on the other hand, the artists producing these works of art continue to die as paupers with nothing to show for their efforts besides declining mental health. In this book, you will learn that in the media and the creative arts industries, nothing is as it seems. Popular culture paints a picture of creative artists and media practitioners suffering ongoing abuse and exploitation at the hands of record labels, film and television production companies, and book publishing houses.
The Middleman with Power takes a deep dive into the business value chain of these industries and interrogates their decision-making processes to explore the validity of the assertions being made against them.

5

5 out of 5

Reviews: 1

5 stars

100%

4 stars

0%

3 stars

0%

2 stars

0%

1 star

0%

Zandi Maweni

South Africa

2024/12/21, 11:43 PM

5

Advantages

This is an interesting and a well articulated piece of work that explored what has been a historic pandemic of abuse and exploitation and the creative artists of all disciplines. A global issue or many artists that die as paupers with nothing to show for their hard work in the hands of what the author label as owners of artistic production and distribution. As an artists myself I enjoyed reading this book and I think it will be quite helpful for those who wish to enter any arts related industry, and those who has seen enough of this industry and wish to pivot their careers to the next level or a different direction.

Disadvantages

The book also touch on the purported abuse and exploitation of authors by both traditional publishers and retailers. I wonder if this might not affect its distribution potential if the book is critical to the ecosystem and how broken and corrupt is the publishing industry. But be that as it may, this remains a piece of work I believe the creative arts industry needs.

Comment

I found the section about government and political parties being the Middleman with power that needs to be cut out hilarious and fascinating.