Rhythm City is a South African television musical drama series produced by Quizzical Pictures. It is an e.tv original production that premiered on the country's free-to-air television channel e.tv from 2007 to 2021.[2] The story revolves around the trials and tribulations of people trying to break into the music industry. The series also airs on e.tv Ghana.
e.tv announced the series in 2007, as a replacement to the cancelled youth-orientated soapie Backstage.[3] While the series itself was hinted as being a youth-orientated series as well, producers of the series revealed that the focus will be on the cutthroat music industry.[4] The series was filmed in Stage 6 of Sasani Studios's Highland North complex in Johannesburg, with footage from surrounding areas used.[5][6]
Casting
Auditions for the series were held at Windybrow Theatre on 12 May 2007.[7] Throughout its run, the series has been a victim of audition scams, which e.tv had responded to.[8][9]
Impact on production
On 2 September 2014, a fire broke out at Sasani Studios. The fire partially shut down production for Rhythm City, alongside e.tv's other soapie Scandal! and M-Net's Big Brother Africa Hotshots.[10] Unaffected by physical damage, production for the series resumed the next day.[11][12]
In August 2017, production was paused for two days, due to the death of Dumi Masilela, who was killed in a hijacking attempt.[13] A commemorative special on-screen memorial service episode was filmed and aired on October 18, following extensive consultation with Dumi's family.[14][15][16]
In March 2020, Rhythm City along with other productions, went on production break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adhering to the president's call for a national lockdown. Production was paused again in June 2020 due to positive cases of COVID-19 recorded from staff, which e.tv confirmed in a press release.[17][18] The set went under a thorough cleaning and production resumed later.[19] During the entire period, new episodes which were pre-filmed continued to air on e.tv uninterrupted.
Controversy
In March 2012, e.tv pulled entries for its series, including Rhythm City, from the 6th South African Film and Television Awards. While the channel didn't give much reason, the awards ceremony revealed that e.tv was dissatisfied over the manner in which the awards were conducted.[20] According to the channel, the action was necessary in order to achieve greater organisational cohesion.[21]
In October 2013, e tv pulled entries from the Royalty Soapie Awards for both Rhythm City and Scandal!, which took place on the 2nd of November. According to then group of head channels Monde Twala, the channel did not have sufficient information about the awards, its judging process and criteria, and overall objective.[22]
In March 2016, the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa reprimanded e tv and Rhythm City for showing a graphic episode on the 20th of October 2015, involving the strangulation of a female character.[23] The channel argued that the series is meant for a mature audience, and that the scene only lasted a few minutes. The BCCSA ruled that e.tv had contravened the broadcasting code, by showing content that was harmful to children in a timeslot where a large number of children would be part of the audience.[24] The channel was not fined, and was ordered to display a message on how they violated the code.
Music
The original soundtrack for the series, including title sequence, was produced by Alan Lazar, under his Lalela Music Library, and Simon Sibanda, with several cast members and artists such as Bongani and Gemini Major. A selection of soundtracks was released through music streaming services Apple Music and Spotify, in 2015.[25] A second title sequence was introduced on 23 October 2014, coinciding with the channel broadcasting in HD.[26][27][28] The title sequence was created by Punch Club Studios.[29] Music for the title sequence was done by Alan Lazar and Simon Sibanda, with vocals from Samthing Soweto.[30] The sequence was filmed with aerial shots over Soweto, Alexandra and the Johannesburg CBD, and on the street level in and around Gandhi square.[31] The series also accepted music submissions from upcoming and emerging artists.
Cancellation
On Friday 21 November 2020, e.tv announced that the series would be cancelled.[32][33] While no concrete reason was given for its cancellation, e.tv only stated that it was part of a "business strategy" by the channel.[34] The final episode aired on 16 July 2021.[35] Rhythm City was replaced with the telenovela House of Zwide.
Broadcast
The series premiered on e.tv on 9 July 2007. Premiere episodes were also aired on the now defunct eKasi+. The series was also briefly uploaded to YouTube, e.tv's online catch-up service eOn Demand, and PCCW's streaming platform Viu,[36] before being removed and added to e.tv's streaming service eVOD.
International broadcast
Across the African continent, the series was broadcast though the channel's eAfrica feed, as well as affiliate channels e.tv Ghana and e.tv Botswana (now YBotswana). The series was also broadcast in Namibia on NBC.
Awards
The South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas)
