The Konkani music market is very vibrant with audio andvideo albums churning out like hot cakes on a regular basis. There are severalVCDs and DVDs of short Konkani films and Konkani tiatr being released atregular intervals as well.
Apart from the major music producers of audio and videoKonkani music, i.e. V.P. Sinari, Manfa Music, Manfa Movies, Cat Video and MusicHouse, many of the singers and writer directors produce their own audio andvideo albums.
The frequent staging of tiatrs in the UK by expatriate Goansgives the producers and artistes an excellent opportunity to market and selltheir products outside the Goan market. Business savvy artistes know the tricksof the trade very well. They time the release of their albums in such a mannerthat they release the same during their visits abroad during the performance oftiatrs. This is a good marketing strategy wherein they are assured of goodsales.
Besides, the major feasts of Goa like, Saint Francis Xavierin Old Goa, Infant Jesus Fama in Colva, Father Agnelo in Pilar and Our Lady ofMiracles in Mapusa, provide another good opportunity to market their productsduring the novenas and on the feast day. Some artistes admit that the highestsales record is obviously obtained at the Old Goa novenas and feast. Stallsselling Konkani music audio CDs and DVDs are set up a these venues where theydo brisk business.
The tiatr auditoriums in the towns are also fertile placesfor marketing these music products. The sales boys engaged by the producersmove freely inside the auditoriums with a bunch of audio albums and there areready buyers for the same.
The biggest fear of the big time producers as wells as theindividual producers (the artiste) who spend their own money in the hope thatthey will recover, is the existence of piracy in the market. This is one aspectthat the authorities have not been able to curb till date. There is rampantpiracy and duplication prevailing in the market. This illegal practice bitesinto the profit margin and legitimate share of the producers, nullifying theirefforts. Until and unless there is stern action and legal implications, thepiracy of Konkani audio and video music will continue with impunity anddiscourage the producers from further production.
