2018 in review: Independent artist are killing Nigerian Music Industry

Music in Nigeria is the third biggest industry in Nigeria after politics and the oil and gas sector when you check the level of affluence enjoyed. Music is making millionaires out of so many Nigerians. Afrobeats and Afropop became a bigger force in Nigeria and the world in 2018. There are many events that made the year a positive one for the different players in the industry. However the industry is still having one of the biggest issues which is a one man Record Label system which is popularly regarded as independent artist. In my opinion it is crippling the music system in Nigeria. I believe being independent is a wonderful thing because there is nothing like calling the shorts in your own business but in music, I believe record label is key to a faster growth of the artist and the brand of the artist not just in Nigeria but in the world. Music is like a sport and if Nigerian Musicians and in the world will want to create an industry that treats Musicians like the soccer players of this world then reducing the level at which independent artist are springing forth should be preached.

Many will say the record label owners are greedy and don’t want to sign good deals with the artist hence giving slavery deals. That is true but I am of the opinion that Nigerian musician and record label owners allowed poverty in the Nigeria to influence the deals they sign. Nigeria musician were poor and looking for ways out and Nigerian Label owners become sort of a task master and played on their poverty. That became the structure and just like everything in life which is prone to change; Nigerian musicians metamorphosed into becoming independent. Hence Tekno and Reekado Banks who are two big prospect in Nigeria have left their record labels. I can state categorically that if Nigeria musician continue on this path- it will be fairly right to postulate that we might not have world beaters who will have their music and name in the lips of at least two-third of the world’s population like Micheal.

Micheal Jackson might have said whatever he wanted to say about Sony music and his managers but looking at it from the advantages the artist gained from the label, one could argue that it was massive. He got his record sold worldwide, he had concerts all around the world and still made a huge amount of money. Innocent Idibia aka 2baba or 2face may say whatever he wants to say about Kennis music but he cannot deny the fact that the label gave him a wonderful platform and would have made better gain if they found a way to resolve their issues and sign an improved contract. Instead he killed the record label record label by his move and swam right into a market where his natural desire can’t take him far. This because musical talent gets messed up when mixed with the hunger for money. Hence when a real artist like 2baba realizes this; what he does it soft pedal and enjoy the level of wealth he has. People look at Davido and Wizkid because they are the new age Champs and argue that they are doing their own thing and it is big but you forget that these individuals are in some kind of international contracts which they could only achieve because they already made money from family and their former record label respectively.  But even at that, a musician’s journey can only go as far in life as his zeal and his strength. The natural position of a musician is to get heard and loved by people for his music; that is why they relax when they have made a name and a few millions from their music. However if a musician is owned by a record label, made of shareholders who are business minded and want to make profit; they will provide different platform for the musician to get more popular and make more money while making them money.

Nigerian Musicians going independent are of the opinion that the record label will take so much money from the sales of their music online hence going independent is the right track. I am of the opinion that Nigeria Artist employ people with little or no knowledge about music, business and law hence the way they have been treated by the Record label owners. Music is more than the microphone and the keys. It is business and it is very hard to manage with performing music and the business of music. Music is a trident structure which is about talent, business and law. You need the talent which is the raw material; the business sense and training which is the way to generate income using the brand of the artist and the law to reduce the and regulate the amount of money made by the record label from the artist. Yet in Nigeria; many upcoming art employ family members with no idea or training in these fields and blame the record label for seeing the opportunity.

Finally, the music scene in Nigeria is a big deal and instead of artist becoming independent; the regulators of the system should allow for investment. They should make music the big thing in Nigeria just like soccer (football) in England where people leave the Middle East to come and invest. Lack of poor management should be checked and corrected when a new star is discovered. Trained Nigerian Lawyers should go into the entertainment scene and make million by protecting the rights of Musicians and their brand name. Nigerian and world Musicians should leave the mediocrity of independent record sale and get themselves a record label which will take all their worries and lunch them beyond their elastic limits in taking their music to the world.