TheNewsGuru

Tag: Nigerian Music Industry

  • Every artiste who worked with him experiences setback – Reekado Banks speaks on ‘Demonic figure’ in music industry

    Every artiste who worked with him experiences setback – Reekado Banks speaks on ‘Demonic figure’ in music industry

    Popular Nigerian singer Reekado Banks has once again alleged that a demonic figure in the music industry is taking advantage of young talents.

    In an interview with podcaster Esther Oye, Banks expressed his intention to educate young artists about this individual to prevent them from falling into his trap.

    In his words: “There is one big man in the music industry who is demonic and taking advantage of young talents. I have worked with him before.

    “Other young artistes have also worked with him. I am not going to mention his name for now, but he knows himself. It will be nice to educate young artistes about this man so they don’t get wrapped up in his mess.

    “Every artiste this man has worked with always have a certain setback and they find themselves in a mess.’’

    Recall, the singer earlier threatened to expose a saboteur of budding talents in the Nigerian music industry. He also described the mysterious figure as either “demonic or clueless”, adding that the person somehow manages to find the best talent whose careers he sabotages with poor decisions.

    In a cryptic post on X, Banks wrote, “One day, I’ll take an interview to talk about someone in the corners of the entertainment industry, who’s either absolutely clueless or plain demonic.

    “Somehow, the brightest budding talents fall in their lap and either through cluelessness or pure demonic activities, they agree to policies that effectively slow these talents down and for some other talents, frustrate them out of pursuing their dreams. One day…”

  • Rema, Asake, Burna Boy shine at 16th Headies Awards in Atlanta (Full Winners List)

    Rema, Asake, Burna Boy shine at 16th Headies Awards in Atlanta (Full Winners List)

    The 16th edition of the prestigious Headies Award, which honors outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry, took place on Sunday, September 3, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia.

    This marked the second consecutive year the event was held in the United States. Established in 2006 by the Hip Hop World Magazine of Nigeria, the Headies Award has become the foremost recognition platform for the Nigerian music scene.

    Since its inception, the Headies has played a pivotal role in documenting the Nigerian music industry’s remarkable progress, making its awards the most coveted prizes in Nigerian music.

    From the emergence of new stars to the recognition of seasoned veterans, the annual ceremony encapsulates the industry’s dynamism and ability to evolve with the times.

    The Awards also reflect the diversity and genre evolution within Nigerian music, as the winners’ list encompasses a wide array of genres, from Afrobeats and rap to alternative and R&B.

    In addition to celebrating talents, the Headies Awards also honour music icons, and this year, the late Sound Sultan received a Special Recognition award, paying tribute to his enduring influence and contributions to the Nigerian music industry.

    The night of glitz and glamour which was broadcast live on HipTV to audiences across Nigeria, saw several artists and industry professionals honoured for their exceptional contributions to the music scene.

    Here’s the full list of winners:

    Best Rap Single:

    ‘Declan Rice’ by ODUMODUBLVCK

    Best Male Vocal Performance:

    ‘Kpe Paso’ by Wande Coal

    Best Alternative Song:

    ‘Tinko Tinko’ by Obong Jayar

    Best Video Director:

    ‘Calm Down’ by Director K (Rema)

    Best Rap Album:

    ‘Young Preacher‘ by Blaqbonez

    Lyricist on the Roll:

    ‘Flytalk Only’ by Payper Corleone

    Producer of the Year:

    ‘Abracadabra’ by Rexxie

    Best Male Artist:

    Rema

    Rookie of the Year:

    ODUMODUBLVCK

    Best Inspirational Song:

    ‘Eze Ebube’ by Neon Adejo

    Afrobeats Single of the Year:

    ‘Last Last’ by Burna Boy

    Special Recognition:

    Sound Sultan

    Digital Artist of the Year:

    ‘Calm Down’ by Rema

    Best Street Hip-Hop Artiste:

    ‘Chance (Na Ham)’ by Seyi Vibez

    Next-Rated:

    Asake

    Album of the Year:

    ‘Mr. Money With The Vibe’ by Asake

    Best Collaboration:

    ‘Who’s Your Guy Remix’ by Spyro, Tiwa Savage

    African Artiste of the Year:

    Rema (Nigeria)

    Best West African Artiste of the Year:

    Black Sherif (Ghana)

    Best R&B Album:

    ‘The Brother’s Keeper’ by Chike

    International Artiste of the Year:

    Selena Gomez

    Best Recording of the Year:

    ‘Soweto’ by Victony, Tempoe

    Best Vocal Performance (Female):

    In Between by Waje

    Best Central African Artiste of the Year:

    Libianca (Cameroon)

    Headies Viewers’ Choice:

    ‘Soweto’ by Victony

    Best East African Artiste of the Year:

    Diamond Platinumz (Tanzania)

    Best North African Artiste of the Year:

    El Grande Toto (Morocco)

    Songwriter of the Year:

    ‘Loyal’ by Simi Kosoko, Goodsfavour Chidozie, Kosoko Adekunle, Marcel Akunwata

    Best R&B Single:

    “For my hand’ by Burna Boy

    Best Female Artiste:

    Ayra Starr

    Best Southern African Artiste of the Year:

    Focalistic (South Africa)

    Best Alternative Album:

    ‘Gbagada Express’ by BOJ

    Hall of Fame:

    Youssou N’dour

  • “Small Nyansh Dey Shake”- Wizkid tells Burna Boy over bigger fish in music industry claim

    “Small Nyansh Dey Shake”- Wizkid tells Burna Boy over bigger fish in music industry claim

    Nigerian singer, Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has informed Burna Boy that “Small Nyansh Dey Shake” as both call out each other after the latter confronted the former following claims of being the bigger fish in the music industry.

    The beef started when Wizkid sent a message to his colleagues in the music industry.

    Taking to his Snapchat account, Wizkid told them to start addressing him as sir or daddy.

    “Small Nyansh Dey Shake”- Wizkid tells Burna Boy over bigger fish in music industry claim

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Wizkid vented about being disrespected in the industry while affirming that his retirement would not make other artists get close to his wealth.

    In a follow-up assertion, the Grammy award-winning singer (Burna Boy) took to his Instagram story to shade Wizkid for bragging unnecessarily and how he is not worth his attention.

    The self-acclaimed Giant of Africa (Burna Boy) wrote: “I can’t talk money with you if you haven’t Made $100M this year. Just smoke BRKFST and Sit down.”

    See the post below:

    “Small Nyansh Dey Shake”- Wizkid tells Burna Boy over bigger fish in music industry claim

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) had earlier reported that Burna Boy had concurred with Wizkid’s claim of being the father of the Nigerian music industry, saying “I am the Uncle To Davido in this music industry”.

    Burna Boy threw shade at Davido as he replied to Wizkid, who sent a message to his colleagues in the industry that they need to call him daddy or sir.

    In his reaction, Burna Boy stated that he was the uncle to Davido in the industry.

    He said: “Lmao, normally Wizkid na every Naija artistes popsy for sure. But I be Uncle to Davido for the Music thing!!! Yes I said it!!!”.

  • OPINION: The sad story of how the Nigerian music industry works

    OPINION: The sad story of how the Nigerian music industry works

    By Agwuma Kingsley

    The Nigerian music industry is dynamic, it is growing immensely as every single year new creators are being introduced into the spaces; waltzing the musical soundscape with the nature and texture of their music to more than a 100 million listeners who have found poverty as next neighbors in the country.

    They are poor, however, without music what could become of their life in the wake of Nigeria’s confusion and chaos? It is the same reason an average Nigerian youth would resiliently beg on the comment section of their favorite celebrity to request an internet subscription, and when that request is granted, although barely granted, they flood Instagram to watch comedy skits which could momentarily take their pains away from Nigeria’s current dreadful state.

    Those skits manage to ease their stress and when that subscription they requested earlier gets exhausted, they now encamp the DMs of these their favorite idols requesting financial help which is another way they hope for survival in a country where average university graduates are jobless.

    In Nigeria, poverty is a common enemy and in churches, members are often encouraged to pray themselves free from this enemy. The rate of corruption and crime in Nigeria has continued to peak, and the creative industry is like a pathway for youths who can thrive in it, to have a big break from this common enemy.

    These sets are referred to as the masses or minorities, and it is them that are often required to make a complete cycle of the “The rich gets richer, and the poor get poorer” cycle.

    In the Nigerian music industry, that saying is our reality and it perfectly knots the flow of the musical soundscape, it is how the industry works.

    For instance, Davido successfully grabbed the attention of a large number of Nigerians as he earned more than a 150 million Naira after he jokingly requested money from family, his friends, and fans through a viral video as he publicly exposed his bank account details through the popular microblogging platform.

    He grabbed Nigerians attention in their numbers through that measure, and it is part of how the Nigerian music landscape works.

    A Nigerian creator usually paves a path for themselves where they first grab your attention before ushering you into the supposed wave their records could offer, and all this occurs in between the buzz of those moments they’ve created.

    Davido had a fair share of this moment after he successfully earned a huge amount. He had the average Nigerians talking his matter before he officially released the Amapiano “Champion Sound” featuring the South African Focalistic.

    The record was projected to soundtrack listeners through the festivities like his previous effort on the remix of Focalistic’s “Ke Star” earlier in 2021.

    Although the record flew and created us moments of ambiance but could never replicate the same success “Ke Star” accrued, first breaking in the South African region and becoming a dominant sound in the Nigerian music landscape after Davido jumped on it.

    Portable Zazu has quickly become one of Nigeria’s street sensations after releasing a track with Poco Lee and Olamide on the joint, and the creator brings the street demography together by also gaining the attention of Nigerians after he had clashes with his manager and Poco Lee, accusing them of ripping him off his money. He became the talk of the Town not only for headlining the news but also for the sake of his record too.

    Currently, he has released another record to follow the same template he curated after “Zazu”, which featured a plethora of creators. The Nigerian music industry operates with a creator who gets the attention of this bunch, the poor masses because they are the ones likely to spread a story and allow the creator’s art to sink. The poor are getting poorer, the same way the rich are getting richer.

    Your favorite creator would always have your attention first mostly when your focus has been taken from him, it is the same way when he successfully has this that you fill his pockets with your little penny through attending his concerts to watch him perform and also connect with the music: also by streaming his art.

    Meanwhile, these same poor masses feel so entitled that their favorite acts owe them their voice to break free from the plights Nigeria offers them incessantly, well, it’s true they don’t owe you their voice either.

    However, they might still help you when they are moved to and not when you want them to. While your attention is all they want from you, it is how the Nigerian music landscape works.

    “The rich get richer and the poor would always get poorer”.