Ministry of Culture reconsiders excluding rappers using auto tune from financial aid amid outrage

In a dramatic turn of events, the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication is reportedly reconsidering its decision to exclude rap artists from receiving financial support and subventions due to their use of autotune. 

The controversy surrounding this issue began when Fatima Tamni, a parliamentary deputy from the Democratic Left Federation, directed a written question to the Minister of Culture, Mehdi Bensaid, raising concerns about the exclusion of trap rap artists from music subventions for 2023 based on a condition prohibiting the use of autotune technology.

Tamni argued that rap music, both globally and in Morocco, has evolved significantly and artists often collaborate with renowned international rap artists, incorporating technological advancements such as autotune and other sound enhancements. 

The inclusion of a discriminatory condition in this year’s commitment register for music support programs sparked outrage, as it contradicts musical progress and unfairly targets rap artists and other genres reliant on audio effects.

Tamni criticized the decision for violating the principles of equal opportunities and cited the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, which Morocco ratified ten years ago. 

According to Tamni, the condition goes against the convention’s objectives of supporting cultural diversity, embracing new expressions, and providing general financial assistance.

Moroccan rapper Ayman Jarachi, known as Thomas, pointed out that autotune is widely used by artists across various musical styles, including Chaabi, Rai, and Pop. 

In an interview with Hespress EN, Thomas argued that the government should not interfere with artistic decisions and support should not be contingent on excluding autotune, as it is a prevalent tool embraced by successful artists worldwide.

“Rap artists may fail with their work if they forego autotune in an effort to gain support, so interfering with their artistic decisions may force them outside of their comfort zone,” concluded Thomas.

Meanwhile, rapper Wolf Attitude expressed surprise and disappointment regarding the ministry’s decision, highlighting the widespread use of autotune by artists of all genres. 

“From Adele to Cheb Larbi, everyone uses autotune, everyone uses sound enhancing techniques after mastering it, as sound should be treated which makes the decision very unfair as there are many artists including I who use autotune who try to convey their feelings through music,” said the rapper.

He questioned the logic behind singling out autotune and suggested that other audio effects like reverb, compression, and delay could face similar restrictions. 

Wolf Attitude emphasized the importance of artistic freedom and the unfairness of imposing limitations on artists’ creative choices.

“No one has the right to impose on artists what to use to make their art, autotune helps to make music and you can’t just tell people to stop using it to fit in certain categories, which diminished the importance of technology and makes no sense.” concluded the artist.

In response, a ministry official reaffirmed to Hespress EN the government’s support for rap music, citing past concerts held in its honor despite criticism. 

The official acknowledged that the recommendation to remove restrictions from the support program originated during the previous government’s tenure and was implemented in 2020. 

However, the current ministry is engaging in discussions with professionals, including unions and organizations, to rectify the situation. 

The objective is to ensure that rap artists, who contribute significantly to the cultural industry, can rightfully benefit from public support.

Regarding Tamni’s written question, sources indicate that the minister has yet to officially receive it. Once the question reaches him through proper channels, he is expected to respond. 

In conclusion, the ministry source argued that the Ministry of Culture aims to find a balance that supports artists while upholding the principles of cultural diversity and artistic freedom.