KUALA LUMPUR: His absence from entertainment shows on television has made some viewers think he is boycotting them.
“No, certainly not,” said Anuar Zain in a news report today.
“I’m still available for TV shows, just that I’m more selective with my appearances these days.”
The 49-year-old crooner said his main grouse against television production companies was “not getting properly paid” for entertainment shows.
“I’m not trying to be exclusive, but many of these offers are for weekend shows, and I’ve got lots of invites to perform on weekends.
“And honestly, the pay isn’t sufficient. For a good TV performance, I need to pay music engineers and make-up artists well, and to spend money on outfits and transporation,” said Anuar.
“This is a problem faced by many artistes, not only me. True, at times we need to make sacrifices, but how long should this be?”
Meanwhile, Anuar plans to release a new studio album in conjunction with his 50th birthday on Feb 15 next year.
“My last album was three years ago. I plan to have light and easy ballads this time around,” he said.
His next public performance will be at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2019 Charity Gala at the Langkawi International Convention Centre (LICC), Kuah, Langkawi on March 29.
The concert will also feature Datuk Sheila Majid and Indonesian singers Harvey Malaiholo and Marcell Siahaan.