The Compact Disc Sellers Association is one of Sierra Leone’s finest entertainment associations that has contributed immensely to the music industry in the country.
However, for some reasons, the Association’s leadership became dormant and was the left with no alternative but to elect a new President that will oversee the affairs of the organization for the next four years.
Speaking to the newly appointed President of the Sierra Leone Compact Disc Sellers Association (C.D.S.A), Mr. Gbrilla Turay aka prezo Gibo he said his primary responsibility is to structure the organization and implement strategies for its development, adding that since he took over office, he has ensured that all members of the organization obtain I.D.Cards at a chipper cost and that he has also helped to raise income for the union. He stressed that another major concern is piracy which he described as a major that has contributed to the deplorable state of the entertainment industry for the past twenty Years.
As the newly elected president he assured that he will collaborate with other entertainment partners to see how best they can put a stop to piracy. Mr. Turay also promised to establish a cordial working relationship with the media in order to bring the two parties together. According to him, the media has played a significant role in the Industry. the President also commented on the present music and movie strength compare to the foreign competitors stating that foreign music and movies are still ahead of the country’s due to the fact that, there is no structure that will put a stop to the much publicity of foreign music and movies on national television, among others.
Prezo Gibo also disclosed that in 2002 and 2003 most of the big artists were able to realize millions of Leones from their royalties at that time he was the President of the Cassette Sellers Association (CSA) but that since very few musical artists have been able to realize millions of leones in royalties because there is no good marketing structures in place.
Most of the movie actors, actresses, and music artists were without proper management which he described as another destructive element to the growth of the Industry.
According to the Public Relation Officers (PRO) of the association, Abass Kuyateh, the Artists, Actresses, and Actors should also take entertainment as a business that has to do with their futures adding that they should all so respect people who support the in their carriers, because according to him, it takes a lot to build a star.
The PRO therefore called all their members in Freetown and the provinces to ensure that they obtain their I.D. Cards and refrain from any piracy act