The wait is finally over! You will now be able to download your favorite Kenyan Gospel music anytime on the new KenyanDownloads.com. This will be the premiere download site for all Kenyan music and KenyanGospel.com is excited to partner with this new site to provide Gospel content on the site. All the downloads that were previously available on this site have now been carried onto the new website. We have worked with KenyanDownloads.com to build a very flexible website for users (who are henceforth referred to as listeners) and artists. Every artist will have their own website url in the form "www.kenyandownloads.com/artistname" and will have total control of their website. In 5 minutes, artists can easily register for an artist account by filling in a simple form and validating their email. Upon logging on to the site, the artist can access a Control Panel at the top right hand corner of the site that enables one to customize their site.
Control Panel
The Control Panel is simplified to ensure even those with little computer knowledge can reap full benefits of the site. Every button and form is well documented leaving no doubt about where to navigate. For example, uploading music onto the site is automated and involves clicking on the "Songs" tab and filling in the Song title, Album Name, Song Artwork, Cost of Song (or leave the field blank and it will automatically be offered as a free download) and then uploading the mp3. The songs appear and are formatted on the newly created artists page. To make the process even easier, there are step-by-step instructions on the homepage of the site guiding one on how to create and manage their account.
Apart from uploading songs and videos, the Control Panel also has a section that provides the artist with detailed real-time statistics of all the sales and downloads of each of the songs. Even details such as tallys of free downloads and preview playback for each song are tabulated. The Control Panel also has an option to upload photos, post the artist's bio (biography) among other cool stuff that we will just let artists navigate for themselves.
For those that are not artists, one should set up a listener account on the site. Listener accounts also have a Control Panel located on the top right hand corner of the site but only appears once you log in. Like artist accounts, the first thing one should do after logging in is to upload their profile picture. There are various limitations for those who do not upload profile pictures. On the Control Panel, listeners also get to set their own unique website url in the form "www.kenyandownloads.com/listenername". The major advantage of having a listener account is that the download links that you purchase are stored under "My Files" section on the right hand side of the Control Panel. This ensures that you will keep a tab of all the downloads you buy on the site and will have the links readily available for you. It is possibe to purchase music without creating a listener account. However, one is automatically created for you after check-out with a temporary password. An email is also sent to you once you purchase a download that also provides the link to download.
Listeners can also upload pictures and also write blogs and these will automatically be published on your page. When logged in, listeners do not have to type in their name when commenting on any artist's page or signing the artist's guestbook. Listeners also get an Inbox where they can communicate directly with artists.
Another cool thing is that artists do not have to wait until they have a complete album to be able to sell their music. So long as you have a single, you can selt up an account. It is upon the artist's descretion to provide either free or paid downloads.
Which Artists?
The site does not discrimate on the artists that are featured on the site. It does not matter if one is a new, upcoming or established artist. Any Kenyan artist can set up an account and sell music on the site. However, a strictly enhanced policy is that the artist MUST legally own all songs uploaded on the site. One must therefore carefully read the Terms of Use and the Artist Agreement before signing up. Also note that although the site has numerous Gospel artists, it is not exclusively for Gospel artists. We are however working with them to have exclusive Gospel pages on the site.
Cost
It is free to set up all artist and listener accounts. As a standard, all songs for purchase carried on the website go for $0.99 and all albums with over 10 tracks cost $9.99 unless otherwise approved by KenyanDownloads.com administrators. There are also numerous songs offered as free downloads all over the site so navigate to your favourite artist to see if they have any free music. This also means that you will now be able to get new music as soon as the artist releases it. All payments are processed by paypal and are safe and secure. You can use the Euro, Canadian dollar, Australian dollar and other top currencies to process your payments on paypal.
Security
Note that KenyanDownloads.com and KenyanGospel.com will work hand-in-hand to monitor the artists accounts. Though we have already verified the artists currently on the site, we will continually monitor and weed out dubious artist accounts. Artists will also be vetted including getting referrals from already established artists to verify their accounts. Impersonation of an artist with the intent to defraud may lead to legal action.
Artists without profile pictures and / or music will be converted to listener accounts and will not be able to upload music. Only create accounts when you are ready to upload your music and profile picture / album cover.
New Music
There is plenty of new music and new albums. Top of the list is Juliani's album Mtaa Mentality courtesy of Gatwick Records in the UK. Another exclusive to the site is Holy Battalion's long awaited debut album. There is also Daddy Owen's newest album System ya Kapungala, Dunco's Atalaku, VUC's new one Mzee wa Kazi, The Chiefs album titled The Chief's Camp, Maximum Melodies third project Ebenezer among dozens of other artists. Check out the complete list of artists.