Nigerian Music Nigeria – A New Dawn For Nigerian Music Industry

Source: Cletus Nwachukwu, Guardian, Jan 02, 2010

2009 is gone, thank goodness for a new year. For the music industry, how will events play out in this year of even numbers? It may just herald a whole new world for the nation’s entertainment industry currently ravaged by the nefarious activities of pirates. It is the tradition across the world for businesses and corporate individuals to take stock of their gains, pains and losses in the outgoing year. The global entertainment industry is no different.

In the year just ended, several of Nigerian acts continued to garner prestigeous international awards, particularly, with the Afrobeat music star, Femi Kuti, coasting home with another Grammy nomination. Tuface, D’Banj, P-Square and several others also won the MTV Base awards. But so much for last year. If the reports are anything to go by, the musical gladiators are roaring to go to make this year a remarkable one.

Indeed, many couldn’t wait to put year 2009 behind them. It was a year that a lot of stakeholders seemed to have done much, or well, not enough, to reposition the music industry. The role played by several top-notch recording companies, labels, show promoters, music providers, musicians and other stakeholders left much to be desired. To worsen the situation, the ever-present pirates continued with their nefarious activities despite several efforts by the government through its agencies to nip them in the bud.

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), through its STRAAP initiative made some encouraging landmark achievements, with several unannounced night raids on CD replicating plants suspected to be owned by pirates such as Akina amongs other factories that have been closed down by the NCC. Also in its efforts to end the seeming crisis rocking the boat of copyright administration in the country, the Adebambo Adewopo-led NCC had sometime last year invited interested organisations to apply for registration as collecting societies. Although the commission has not officially announced or approved any organisation yet, the Music Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN) and PMRS which have metamorphosed into the Copyright Society Of Nigeria (COSON) have continued to operate without the approval of NCC.

However, an inside source close to the commission revealed that the government is set to implement tougher measures to check the piracy scourge this new year. Besides, there are indications that NCC may approve more registered collecting societies this year.

Concerts and shows sponsored and organized by corporate bodies like the Nigerian Breweries Plc, Globacom, MTN, Zain, Hip-hop World, Cally Ikpe’s NMVA, City People, Thisday, Rivers State government sponsored CANIRIV, ECOWAS Peace Pageant and a few others, made impressive impact last year, but observers are worried that much was not seen from the Dele Abiodun-led PMAN. The musicians’ body, expected to be the engine room of entertainment activities in the country, was financially bankrupt and could not really play any significant role in the entertainment industry.

Such lukewarm attitude by PMAN has been said to be responsible for the poor state of the music industry and the musicians. A music expert, Mr Edi Lawani, says one of the reasons musicians accept crumbs from the tables of several local and multinational companies all in the name of appearing in shows alongside their foreign counterparts, is that many of those who ought to take more than a passing interest in the development of the music industry are not doing so at the moment. “I’ve come to realize that many of our local labels or recording companies are money-mongers and only interested in milking the artistes and the industry.

“Let PMAN, Kennis, Storm, Questionmark, Westside Music explain why they couldn’t organise a world-class musical event to showcase their acts. I tell you, we have enough raffia to make a decent basket. I mean, we have a lot of willing companies here and with proper packaging, the industry will surely grow, ” Lawani said.

Another respondent who craved anonymity was particularly concerned about what he called the ill treatment of artistes by label owners. He noted that the relationship between the labels often resembled that of cat and dog, which may explain why if the labels are not taking their often ill-treated artistes to court, they are fighting and quarrelling among themselves for selfish reasons. Recording contracts are often not respected and with shoe-string budgets on promotional activities, sales of albums released are usually appalling.

But all this notwithstanding, even those in the diaspora seem to have resolved to survive and improve upon previous performances and of course, record sales. Most of them have decided to take the bull by the horns.

Towards the end of 2009, several albums were hurriedly pushed into the market, and so too, were newly established entertainment outfits which joined the bandwagon in the promising but yet unpredictable and murky waters of the music industry.

Characteristically, new albums were pushed into the market at the tail end of 2009. Interestingly, most of the new works were well packaged and appealing. New entrant, Wande Coal, is one of the artistes expected to be in the news this year. His latest album is still creating ripples. He performed well at the Star Mega Jam concert in Lagos and Abuja last December. Tuface Idibia, renowned for his monster hits, is also one of the acts to look out for this year for his fast selling new album and of course, the honours he is expected to receive. Seun Kuti, will make a remarkable impact on the local music scene this year, greater than the height he has attained in foreign. Afrobeat, will make a bold return to the mainstream this year.

For over five years, twin brothers Peter and Paul Okoye, famously known as P-Square, have continued to shine and break sales records, but sadly, their latest album Danger is now on danger list as sales of the album is nothing to write home about. No thanks to the running battle they had with their former landlord.

“P-Square have done tremendously well in the last few years, so much that their fame and fortunes soared immensely, but I think they may have lost focus or have nothing new to offer now. I am not surprised because that is typical of new generation Nigerian artistes. They have made so much money, what more? Tuface seems to be the only artiste that has been consistent in the music game,” Onome Oke, a music expert, observed.

For several reasons, reggae music may be coming back to the mainstream if efforts of returnees like Mandators, Ras Kimono, and of course, Alex Zitto, who is said to have concluded arrangements to storm the country early this year, are anything to go by.

According to sources at PMAN, plans are being fine tuned to organise a mega concert that would have the King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Christy Essien-Igbokwe, Bright Chimezie, Kollington Ayinla, KWAM 1, Ras Kimono, Orits Wiliki, Stella Monye, Tuface Idibia, Admiral Dele Abiodun, Ik Belemu, Opan, Zakky Adze, Seun Kuti, Ema Ogosi and several other notable musicians on stage. The show is aimed at redirecting the music industry and bring back its lost glory.

Said Charly Boy: “The music industry will be greater this year. We expect things to happen because it’s an even number year. Besides, we hope to see more live music this year and the fortunes of the real musicians will be huge while the pretenders would fall by the wayside. It’s time to separate the boys from the men, the real from the fake. I am not relenting, I am coming stronger musically this year.”

Nico Gravity: “The Nigerian music industry has continued to grow in leaps and bounds despite all the hiccups. Last year was great but I am very positive that this year will be greater. Reggae music will be one of the surprises this year because it’s coming back to take its pride of place. Already, the likes of Kimono are back and now warming up strongly to properly relaunch their music. Some of us have also perfected our game to ensure ghetto music returns to the centre stage again. China, Marvelous Benjy, Fryo and of course, Mighty Mouse are coming with something new this time around. So, 2010 is the year of wonders in the music industry.

Sammie Okposo: “So far the music industry has been very interesting and very successful. The artistes have done wonderfully well in terms of song delivery. Our only problem is packaging, which I believe will be improved upon this year because a lot of our local artistes have gone out there and have seen the way it’s been done overseas. So I expect a better year for the industry in Nigeria.”

Sunny Neji: “We look forward to more live shows and concerts this year. I believe that’s the only way the industry can really grow. I think we’ve had enough of miming on stage, it’s time our artistes should perform live rather than mime. And the only way to achieve this is for the industry to organise more live concerts and shows. The year just ended has been wonderful for the industry, some of our works are in the world music market today and I believe it will be better this year. I want to use this opportunity to tell PMAN to wake up from its slumber. Dele Abiodun is a performing musician of note, so why is it that nothing is happening? They should wake up and help move the music industry forward.”

Ras Kimono: “The music industry is better now, there is more money today and a lot of artistes are now living well, driving big cars and living in big houses. In those days, it was not so even though the music was better than what it is now. Yes, the young ones have done very well musically but I’ve always said it that a professional musician should perform live on stage and not mime. Kimono is back and I believe a lot of the youths will learn and take a cue from us because there’s no room for artistes who mime this year.”

Nigerian Music Nigeria 2Face, D’Banj, Femi Kuti, P-Square