Kwesta is the 90% king - Ngud' has topped the charts

Kwesta has emerged the biggest winner six weeks after the now popular 90% local music quota decree from the SABC.

His monster hit Ngud' has topped the charts, fuelled by the decision that saw local music played more often on SABC radio stations than before.

Trailing Kwesta is international house exponent Black Coffee, whose song Come With Me has enjoyed substantial airtime.

But it has not been easy for the locals who have had to fight off fierce competition from the likes of international stars Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, Calvin Harris, Fifth Harmony and Rihanna.

Bieber's track Company unseated Ngud' at the end of May and last week, Timberlake's Can't Stop the Feeling was perched at the top.

Other songs making a dent in the playlist are Mthande by Musa, which had the highest debut in the week of May 23. Sketchy Bongo's Let You Know featuring Shekinah has also had a good run, as did Hell Naw by Nasty C and Thinking About You by Goodluck.

Kwesta: 'I have not arrived'

The information used is from the EMA charts which tracks music played on 55 radio stations and provides the most comprehensive service across the SABC, commercial regional, community and campus stations. The research dates from May 9 to June 19. The 90% quota was introduced on May 12.

A modest Kwesta said he was elated by how his song featuring Cassper Nyovest did well.

"It's a great feeling. My job was to make the song and it's the people who put it where it is today. The reaction has been great, but I'm not going to take credit.

"The 90% quota helps everyone because it means the country is supporting its own and we enjoy more exposure. It goes beyond the music, it's a mentality shift."

On international acts still dominating the charts, Kwesta said he understood it was not 100% local.

Given Ngwenya, founder of Born in Soweto, a consultancy company, welcomed the news.

"When you compare the data for the five-week period prior to 90% you will find that the SABC policy has improved the general high rotation of South African music."

Ngwenya points out that for the first time at least 50 of the Top 100 most played songs are local. In the past the highest was about 30.

"The impact on the broadcast of international music is significant only on the 18 SABC radio stations. The 90% policy has not resulted in the total decimation of overseas music if one considers that they continue to occupy about 50% of all music played on our airwaves, which is still a lot especially considering South African music and African music at large is almost totally not heard on radio overseas."

SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago toasted the news:

"We wanted to stimulate music industry with the 90% quota. We are going in the right direction. Musicians like Chicco Twala and Ringo Madlingozi have said that they have found a reason to go into studio and record new music. This is a pure indication they are taking it well."

Joyous Celebration boss Lindelani Mkhize said: "Yes there are some positives, and there's room for improvement. We need to ensure that the quality is not compromised, this is a caution to artists and producers."

-This story first appeared in Sowetan