More than 60 percent of us have at least one person close to us, declare their undying and laughable love for the music business,claiming in the process that they have always had this in-explainable need to hold a mic and sing to thousands.
The modern day music business in Nigeria, have either intentionally or unintentionally, created the notion that some few myths, guiding the lives and sound of some upcoming acts, are actually the truth, which by the way is no where near the truth.
Today, we will be discussing 6 blatant lies told about the Nigerian music industry.
Gospel Music Does Not Sell
I, have heard a thousand and one times that gospel music does not sell, but, before I address this ridiculously blatant lie, let me first explain what gospel music is. Gospel music, is a genre under inspirational music which simply means ‘Good news.’
Absolutely no one is saying gospel music has to feel like you are at a CAC, Celestial, Redeemed or Catholic convention, I get it. For some people, such form of music might be boring, but be rest assured that gospel music can as well be unleashed on the consumers in any genre. It could be in rap, pop, funk, trap, afrobeat…any genre the spirit might be needing the message passed along.
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There is a reason why the likes of Mike Abdul of Midnight Crew, Sinach, Lara George, Frank Edwards, keep standing out and making a name/money for themselves, and a reason some secular artistes end up going the gospel music route sometimes, its simple, there is a market for gospel music in Nigeria, it now depends on how you want to drive your music/message home.
Your songs must be ‘Kpangolo’ music
Am sure from the name itself, you can already depict that such music is basically noise. ‘Kanpogolo’ music, [so to speak], has gained ground even more than intellectual music, in the Nigerian music industry. My definition of this kind of music; ‘lazy lyrics voiced on an equally devastating poo of a beat.’
There are a few examples of Nigerian artistes, who allowed the noisy lies in the industry get in the way of their initial brilliant plan for the music business, leaving their most loved genre to venture into Kpangolo music, at the end you see them running back to their first love.
Stay true to your sound, need be, spice up the beat to suit your taste but, you needn’t entirely go off track, who does that ‘epp’ at the end of the day? The consumers, who see red after wasting their data to download the joke you call music, or the artiste who lost money to an equally hungry producer.
There is a reason why the likes of Asa, Dare Art Alade, Timi Dakolo, Waje, Mode 9, Jesse Jagz, are still relevant till date.
You Don’t Have To Market Your Song Because Its Good