By Jimmy Chazama:
Some musicians have expressed concern over the adjustment of studio sessions by Producers and Audio Engineering Association of Malawi (Paem) members.
Paem members have pegged the price at K1 million per song.
The musicians say the amount is on the higher side, such that some gifted artists may not afford the fees.
In a statement released recently, Paem says, effective February 1, 2026, studio session pricing has been adjusted to K1 million.
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The association says the adjustment allows members to sustain investments in advanced technology and facility improvements.
The statement further says the K1 million fees are the recommended rate for standard sessions— including professional equipment and engineer support—while issues such as extended time and custom packages will be discussed during booking.
Lilongwe-based singer, songwriter and consultant Kim of Diamonds said the fee hike could lead to the exclusion of independent voices.
“An independent artist planning to record five to 10 songs would immediately face a K5 million to K10 million studio bill, which is too much. This is even without [factoring in issues such as] promotion and other services,” she said.
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The artist, famed for songs such as ‘Take My Number’, said the K1 million fees would make it tough for musicians to make music.
Musician Evanz Muzik, who is the creator of ‘Dear Mahopu’ songs, questioned the move, saying the K1 million fee hike did not reflect the actual production quality.
“Many times, when artists go to studios, they record the entire song and, within minutes, the vocals sound like they have already been mixed. Producers often just apply preset plug-ins they downloaded for free and call it mastering,” he said.
Evanz Muzik said only few producers in the country were worth the K1 million fee.
The rapper also said many studios in the country operated from homes, hence do not even pay licence fees and other taxes to the authorities.
“They do not invest much and, so, why [settle for] K1 million? I just want to urge fellow musicians to invest in own recording equipment,” he said.
Meanwhile, Musicians Union of Malawi (Mum) has called on Paem to be flexible in their fees in order to accommodate all players.
positives and negatives
Mum President Vita Chirwa said the fees would make it difficult for up-and-coming artists to access studio sessions.
“Yes, things are tough but let them make their fees affordable or the prices should be different depending on producers,” Chirwa said.
However, Paem President Percy Manyozo stood firm against calls for revision.
“Every decision comes with positives and negatives. The pricing applies to every producer because they all follow the same process to produce a song. It is up to the association to ensure that quality is adhered to,” Manyozo said.
