The industry has really changed a lot both positively and
negatively, and as most people will say has dropped the African flavour and
have embraced the western style of music. To some persons, it is a great
development while to others it is not good. This article is not to take sides
in this argument, rather it is to analyse the music industry it is. I will be
identifying the strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats affecting the
industry so as to help our artists know the future of the industry and upcoming
artists can also learn in what way the industry is slacking so as to fill in
the blank space to get his pay checks.
STRENGTH
International
recognition: Within the years some very successful musicians have
successfully broken into the international market and have created a name for
the Nigerian music industry. With artistes like Psquare, Dbanj, 2face and
Wizkid who to a very large extent have gotten great stand in many African
countries and even worldwide, other young and upcoming artists have a chance to
be heard by people round the world.
Increasing number of
record companies: Compared to the 19th century when there was
only few record companies and organisations willing to sponsor artists, in this
century, things are different. With the growth of music in Nigeria and
worldwide, most people are willing to invest much money on it. Basically, every
well known musician now wants to establish his own label and break from the one
that gave them fame, so that they can make more money. In Nigeria presently,
there is at least 500 record labels so if your problem is not from the village
why can’t you get one to sign you?
The music lover’s in
Nigeria: I don’t really have much to say about this but let us take an
instance, how many Nigerians can afford to do a wedding outside the country in
Dubai and still have in attendance the most respected ladies and gentlemen from
Nigeria; receiving about three cars as gift? To me, he didn’t spend too much because
he is good at his art, so he kept receiving favours upon favours from the music
loving public in Nigeria (of course you know who am talking about, if you
don’t, ask my oga at the top). The point is, Nigerians love music, and upcoming
artists who are good at it are appreciated and in little time get the rewards
of stardom.
Technology: With technologies
like the internet, various sound production software, and so on, it makes it
easy for almost anyone to just record a song and get heard at little or no
cost. Personally, as an upcoming artist I taught myself how to do music
production from youtube and also record, mix and master my songs with softwares
like fruity loops, cubase, and reason. When the song is done, I publish it for
free on sites like www.souncloud.com, www.reverbnation.com, and so on. We also
have some home based sites like www.tooxclusive.com,
www.notjustok.com which is also very nice too. So, make the
internet your friend and it could get you heard.
WEAKNESS
Fake art: The
“fake art syndrome” is mostly seen in most rap music, very many Nigerian rappers
I’ve heard are punch line thieves. They restrict their self too much and are
too lazy to get their own original lines. That is the reason why rap music in
Nigeria is not really a success. Apart from some distinguished rappers like MI,
Iceprince, Vector, Olamide, Dr Sid, Phenom, LOS, Ikechukwu, Godwon and maybe
skales which I enjoy their music, I’d rather listen to POKO “hi” alongside a
speech from President Jonathan.
Imitation: We are
leaving our original style of music, Nigerian artists don’t want to sound like
Nigerians, using a foreign accent removes that tone which we want to hear in
songs. Before when we hear songs, we can easily know the difference between an African
song and a foreign song but now it all sounds the same. If you want to know
what a true Nigerian song sounds like, listen to Fela, 2face, Dbanj (his songs
before 2012), ruggedman, and flavour nabania.
Distance from fans: “
Too sad, after I bought every of your song, attended all your shows in my
area, added your name to my name of facebook, learnt all your songs and dance
moves, even tatted your name on a very sensitive part of my body I saw you in a
show and wanted to take a picture with you and you snubbed me yet kim
kardashian comes to Nigeria and you want to snap with her; thunder fire you” –I
saw this on one website, it was an angry fan telling this to her favourite artist.
Give me one reason why the celeb has not
lost this girl’s support?
Impressions: The
music industry is even causing more damage to the society than violence and
even boko haram when the only thing I hear in songs is how they pop moet, drop
out from school, put molly in a girl’s drink (because rick ross said so), how
they kill people, Nigerian artists now swear and curse in their music as much
as foreign artists. Please your music should be used to grow minds not damage
them. The youths look up to artists as role models so portray a good image so
they can become better individuals by emulating you.
Noise: Am not
talking about anyone in particular but some artists don’t even have a genre for
their music and they just call it pop or afrobeat. Trust me, I know how pop and
afrobeat sounds and it is not just noise they have messages they pass too. So
stop ringing that noisy bell of yours and give us good music.
OPPORTUNITIES
Getting a wide range
of international listeners: With the impressive performance of some of our
artists who have gone international, upcoming artists have an opportunity to be
heard internationally too.
Music Producers: Gosh!!!
If there is one thing the industry has, its producers. The likes of Don Jazzy, Cobhams, Sarz, Terry G, Jesse Jagz, Samklef,
Maleek berry (*new), Dee tunes, Davido, Sheezy etc... There are many many
others ooo, these are the ones I can remember. With such artists I see the
industry heading for great success.
THREATS
Ghana and other
countries: It’s not that I am against the progress of the Ghanaian music
industry or that of any other country, but can’t we see that they have taken
the fame from nollywood, and are ready to steal the fame from our music
industry also? Look at Sarkodie his rhymes are off this earth, now he takes
almost all the awards which were formally given to Nigerian artists. Their
dance moves is presently what is rocking our stage (Azonto). Please sit up
guys, we used to be the giants of Africa, don’t turn this to another story of
David and Goliath.
Nigerian Broadcast Commission
(NBC): Whether we like it or not, they are a big threat, because they ban
virtually all our good songs from the radio and television. How can an artist’s
song be heard when it can’t get airplay? Well there is a saying, if you can’t
beat them, join them. Am not saying all artists should go and sign up with them
but try as much as possible to not offend them by avoiding vulgarity, swearing
and other things they do not like.
That will be all for this article, I hope it helps to give
artists a better insight of the industry, also help them identify their problems
and possible ways to tackle them.
nice 1....keep it up
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