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Most beautiful horse in the world in Turkey
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The most beautiful horse in the world lives in Turkey. Looks like a golden statue 🙂
THE MISUNDERSTOOD BUSINESS OF NIGERIAN MUSIC: THE WANDE COAL CASESTUDY
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| Wande Coal |
Written by : Temi Babatunde.
There is no gainsaying that the Nigerian music industry is nowhere close to having structures like its counterparts in the US, UK or other developed countries. However, one could argue that the ‘haphazard’ structures record labels have here have produced some of the most successful artistes Africa, and indeed the world, has seen in recent times. Despite that, there seems to be a common trend of artistes being raised from obscurity by record labels, groomed to success, and then same turning around to desert those labels under the most unamicable circumstances. Alliances are key in any business, especially in one as harsh as the entertainment industry where who you know often determines how far you go, regardless of your talent (or lack of it). There is quite a lengthy list of musicians that have broken away from producers or labels and whose musical careers are yet to recover – artistes who have been unable to score follow up hits since breaking away from a winning relationship.
One of such that keeps coming to mind is 9ice. Regardless of the factors that might have played a part in fracturing his relationship with ID Cabasa, his career is yet to recover from the break with the producer who helped birth the debut album that shot him to limelight. There are others like Chuddy K and GT tha Guitarman, to mention a few. This leads to two trains of thought, the first of which is: Why kill a working chemistry? Is it because of greed? A lost sense of progress? What exactly is responsible for the prevailing trend of artistes dishonouring contracts or wanting out of arrangements that have spurned hits upon hits for reasons fuelled by a desire to earn more money? The second train of thought is: Should an artiste not ‘move forward’? To this, I say, everyone should take steps necessary for their progress. However, things must be done the right way. None of those aforementioned artistes have really moved forward.
Wizkid, on the other hand, has laid the ground on how to ‘move forward.’ Bad blood would haunt any career, so Wizkid achieved a new paradigm in his relationship with EME. He wanted more, but he or his advisers understood that there’s a time, place for everything, and things, if done properly, will achieve the best results. The artiste is honouring his contract with EME, while building his own record label by the side. The biggest problem facing artistes who want to break away from their hitherto winning formulae is that they take their inexperienced selves into the business of music – not just creating music, as they are gifted at, but becoming their own record executives, and producers amongst other things.
A recent example of this is Wande Coal, who is on a quest to be his own label executive. An artiste, in the course of his career, could get to that point but the question is: Is Wande ready? His debut album, which was entirely produced and largely co-written by Don Jazzy, comfortably sits as one of the top Nigerian albums of the decade. Wande is an artiste who, as he says himself, got signed from Mushin. He moved into an apartment in a high brow area of Lagos, drives a choice car and released over a dozen hits during what he now chooses to describe as a 10-year servitude to Don Jazzy. If that’s the definition of serving Don Jazzy, I bet a lot of artistes would choose to serve him for life! Yes, some of the blame lies with the record labels. And here is where I fault them primarily – on the issue of contracts. A press statement released by Mavin Records hinted at the fact that there wasn’t a signed contract between Wande Coal and the label.
This is certainly a recipe for disaster. But then again, not that contracts have ever stopped Nigerian artists from displaying a culture of impunity – case in point: Brymo, who recently released an album in violation of his contract with Chocolate City Record Label. Wande Coal, however, one upped Brymo by allegedly releasing without permission or credit, a song originally written and arranged by Don Jazzy. Unlike the rest of the world where grave career consequences follow walking out of a binding contract or intellectual property theft, such is not the case here. Nigerian acts do these things at free will and earn sentiments from fans, public.
No artiste, not even a Wande Coal or Brymo, should be able to carry on with a music career if he/she decides to walk out of his/her recording contract or ‘steal’ a song over flimsy excuses like “I served you for 10 years”. If there is to be true progress, there must be an overhaul of the Nigerian music industry, both in terms of structure and mind set. Standard contracts must be signed and artistes and record labels must be held accountable for any breaches of such contracts.
(Temi Babatunde is a music producer turned trained entertainment lawyer of Nigerian descent but based in South Africa)
TINSEL'S DETECTIVE SANKEY TIES THE KNOT TODAY
The wedding ceremony of the actress who also plays the role of detective Sankey; an annoying policeman in MNET’s Tinsel series is taking place in Lagos today. Ann has children from previous relationships.
Congrats Ann! God bless your union.
GO EAGLES! NIGERIA WINS FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP, SETS NEW RECORD
Nigeria has now won the competition four times (1985, 1993, 2007 and 2013) and finished runner up three times, Brazil is the second most successful team to win three times and emerge runner-up twice.
Go Eagles!!!
ENDORSEMENT DEALS: WANDE COAL JOINS GLO'S TRAIN
Few days after the release of his newest single, ‘Baby face’ and his exit from Mavin Records made public, Wande Coal is basking in good news. Hear it from the horse’s mouth.
“Thank you to God the almighty & big thank u to my faithful fans for all your support through the years.I’m the newest Glo Ambassador in Town“. He announced on his twitter page.
PHOTO: ACTOR, JIBOLA DABO DELVES INTO POLITICS
PHOTOS: RAFAEL NADAL SPOTTED IN CHELSEA'S TRAINING GROUND
Tennis ace, Rafael Nadal was recently spotted at Chelsea FC’s Cobham training ground. Before then, he made a surprise visit to Chelsea’s dressing room shortly after their UEFA Champions League game with FC Schalke 04 on wednesday.
VIDEO: 11 YEAR-OLD DOCUMENTARY MAKER, ZURIEL ODUWOLE'S ACHIEVEMENTS
My third time of writing about Zuriel, that shows how remarkably wonderful she is. Here’s a brief montage of the 11 year old Zuriel’s incredible exploits, over the last 18 months. These have been done between school, music class, basketball leagues, mandarin class, robotics class, house chores, window shopping, helping in the kitchen, charity event participation for girls poverty alleviation, and doing the usual things a young girl likes to do – playing with friends.You might recall she was featured in the August 2013 edition of Forbes Africa, making her the youngest person in that prestigious titles 96 year history, to be accorded that privilege. She is currently traveling to interview the Prime Minister of Jamaica – The Most Honorable Portia Simpson-Miller.
What an inspiration to children, especially Girls, the world over. Simply astonishing !!!! A class act indeed, and a true Nigerian, and African Global brand.
PHOTO OF THE DAY: NIGERIA DISSED IN INDIA
Why evils? This banner with the caption, “Say No to Nigeria(n), say No to Drugs.” was hung in a street in India. I don’t get, the impression Indians or rather some select Indians have about Nigeria is that we deal in drugs? Na wa!
2014 WORLD CUP: RONALDINHO AND JUAN PABLO SORIN NAMED AMBASSADORS
Reacting to the honour, the ex Barcelona player said he considers it a very proud moment to represent the city. "Ever since I moved here I have felt at home, Belo Horizonte is such a beautiful city, rich in sporting culture and with great people. I look forward to working with my fellow ambassadors to help showcase this fantastic city to rest of the world." He added.
"This is a great moment for Belo Horizonte, Brazil and South America and I'm honoured to play a part in promoting the city at such an important and exciting time. This is a city that has so much to offer to sports fans all around the world and hopefully our work will help to contribute to a tangible legacy of sports events in the region for years to come." Ex Argentina player, Juan Pablo Sorin affirmed.