Singer Cindy Sanyu has reminded fellow artistes that genuine fan support remains the foundation of lasting success in the music industry, arguing that awards, media attention and paid publicity cannot create a real star on their own.
According to Cindy, an artiste's popularity should first be established among ordinary fans before attracting significant attention from the media.
She explained that media houses and journalists are more likely to notice an artiste after seeing them attract audiences at grassroots level.
“Someone will give you an interview because they saw you attract five people at Owino or ten people somewhere talking about you, so it starts with the normal people,” she partly said.
‘It Doesn’t Come From TV’
Cindy urged artistes to remain connected to their grassroots supporters, warning that losing touch with ordinary fans can eventually affect their relevance despite maintaining a strong media presence.
She argued that television appearances, interviews and advertisements only amplify an already existing fanbase rather than create one.
“Let's stay with our people on the ground. The people on TV first see that you're attracting numbers down here and say you're a star. It doesn't come from TV and all these ads that you pay for, it comes from genuine love from these normal people,” she added.
Cindy's remarks come amid ongoing discussions about what truly makes an artiste successful in Uganda's increasingly competitive music industry.