DANCEHALL STAR BABA DEE TO RELEASE NEW SINGLE ‘CLAP & SWING’ FT COURAGE JACOBS THIS OCTOBER

Veteran Dancehall singer and C.E.O of Naija Ninja Ent., Dare Fasasi, popularly known as 'Baba Dee' has exclusively revealed that he is set to drop a new music track alongside its video this month.

The track which is titled 'Clap & Swing' and features International act Courage Jacobs, is to be released on the 16th of October, 2016.

Baba Dee Fasasi who recently held the highly successful 2nd edition of the Lagos Urban Music Festival also revealed that plans are in full swing for an album release.

When asked if the album will be out this year, Baba Dee replied 'No, works are in the pipeline for another track to be released this year but the album will be out early 2017'.

GOSPEL STAR, FLO ROCKA TEACHES 'TECHNIQUES TO SINGING'

Gospel Star, Akinwunmi Nathan Akiremi, popularly known as 'Flo Rocka' is an accomplished Producer, Singer, Song Writer and Sound Engineer with over 20 years of experience.

The music star who is known for several gospel hits such as 'Twale', 'Pamuregeji', 'Covenant Keeper' among others used his Instagram account (@florocka) to teach 'techniques to better singing' and encourage music acts to try it out.

Watch:

ACE ARTISTE MANAGER SEYI ALLEN TALKS CURRENT PROJECT, CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY, BAGGED HARVARD DEGREE AND MORE

Seyi Allen

This week, we were honoured to host ace artiste manager, Mr. Seyi Allen at our studios. Mr Seyi Allen who had previously worked with music talents such as Sunny Neji, Blackky, Azeezat Queen of Love among others made a quick stop to discuss Copyright Issues, Challenges facing the Nigerian music industry and his recently bagged Harvard Degree.

Enjoy the excerpts below.

Q: It is a privilege to have you at our studios Mr Seyi Allen

A: Thank you. I am glad to be here.

Q: We know Seyi Allen, the legendary artiste manager – asides that, what is Seyi Allen up to presently?

A:  I recently delved into internet promotions. I have a company called Network Tentacles, and we promote everybody, celebrities, organisations and even politicians.

Q: Looking at the comparison between the present day music industry and that of the past, do you think we’ve improved or gone worse?

A: It’s both ways, music of before had more substance, melody, and rhythm. Although the music of today has rhythm, its better beat – wise. The beats are cool and jumpy, those that are slow are slow, but the present day music has less substance.

Q: What do you think is the greatest singular challenge facing the Nigerian Music Industry? Last week, Ms. Kenny Saint Best said it was Media Buying. What is your take on this?

A: With the knowledge that I have now, I have come to discover that the greatest singular challenge is the knowledge about Intellectual Property. Intellectual Property is the oil of the world now and if that isn’t taken seriously, I do not think the music industry will move forward because we are good at every other thing we do. We are good at videos, we have good audios, we cut across, but the more we cut across, the more the need for better understanding of intellectual property. If you do music as a business and do not earn from it, it means that business will not move forward, your record label will also not benefit from your work, in such a scenario, the only people who will benefit are those who utilise your work for free.

Q: We’ve heard several stories of music talents leave school to face music squarely, but you’ve decided to do the unusual by going back to learn Copyright from Harvard, even after a previous degree. That’s a big one. Why Copyright?

A: I studied Physics and Electronics before but I have always wanted to do Law. I realised it doesn’t make sense to be ignorant of the law in Nigeria. I have also always wanted to do an A & R Management course abroad, so when the opportunity came to learn more about Intellectual Property, I went for it. Prior to knowing COSON, I’ve been a follower of World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), always reading and learning more about IP. I’ve also come to realize that everywhere in the world, once you truly understand Intellectual Property, you begin to make more money from your works.

Q: Now having studied Copyright, what has changed about you?

A: It has given me better understanding, I know so much now that I am about to head on to the roads to teach people, especially the upcoming artistes.

Q: That’s the next big, that’s what Seyi Allen is up to. Kindly shed more light

A: I am working on ‘KNOW WHAT I KNOW’. I am starting with the local dialect version, what we call ‘Pidgin English’ to enable me communicate properly with the people. The aim is to enlighten the ‘ghetto’ areas about Copyright.

Q: When is this to kick off?

A: Late October, last week in October.

Q: Looking at ‘KNOW WHAT I KNOW’, why have you targeted these areas and not the big, major artistes?

A: This is because organisations such as COSON and the Nigerian Copyright Commission have always done that to the big artistes. It’s sad to know that some of the big creative minds only come when they hear of their colleague receiving hefty royalties; they are less interested in talk. I want the upcoming ones to understand copyright and its benefits before becoming popular.

Q: What advise will you offer as regards ensuring more creative minds are made aware of their rights?

A: COSON will continue to do its best but this is where other music bodies should come in and talk to their members. They should always organise seminars to enlighten their members.

Q:      Do you have any final words or message you’d like to pass across?

A: I want to encourage Nigerian artistes, song writers, composers and all involved in music creation to learn more about Intellectual Property. I’d also encourage them to earn money continuously from the usage of their works by becoming members of COSON. Let the music pay!.

COSON STARS SET TO THRILL AT THE LAGOS URBAN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2016

Lagos Urban Music Festival 2016 will hold tomorrow, October 1, 2016 at the historic Freedom Park, Victoria Island, Lagos, starting from 1oam as part of the plans lined up to celebrate Nigeria's 56th Independence.

This year's edition which is the second edition, will see several COSON stars such as Baba Dee Fasasi, Ruggedman, Soundsultan, African China, 9ice, MI Abaga and Solidstar thrill thousands of attendees.

Other top acts expected at the event include, Ycee, Pepenazi, Jaywon, Joel, Mz Kiss, General Pype, among many others.

The high octane music festival will also see the Nigerian Hall of Fame exhibition, as well as the grand finale of the Lagos Talent Hunt.

LUMF 2016 is presented by Baba Dee's led - Naija Ninja Entertainment and supported by the Lagos Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture.

THE PROFILE: DAVIDO

David Adedeji Adeleke musically known as ‘Davido’ is one of Nigeria’s greatest music exports. The recording artiste, performer and record label C.E.O was born on the 21^st of November, 1992 in Atlanta, USA, but raised in Nigeria, has continued to wax stronger since his burst into the Nigerian music scene in 2011 with his hit debut single ‘Back When’ featuring Nateo-C, and a follow up track titled ‘Dami Duro’ which cemented his place among the stars.

In 2012, Davido released his first album titled ‘Omo Baba Olowo’, an album which contained several hits such as Gbon Gbon, Ekuro, One of a Kind and All of you. There was no resting for the music star as a year after he began work his second album ‘The Baddest’, released in 2015 which contained major top chart hits such as Gobe, Aye, Skelewu, Fans Mi ft Meek Mill, Owo ni koko, among others.

Davido who co-owns HKN Music, a record label he belongs to alongside B –red, Sina Rambo, and Deekay, earlier in 2016, announced his major deal with  Sony Music. He later unveiled a new label ‘Davido Music Worldwide’ snapping up new acts Mayourkun and Dremo.

(ref: COSON music machine (13), Wikipedia)

Watch Videos of Davido

COSON'S GM, MR. CHINEDU CHUKWUJI LOSES FATHER

The General Manager, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Mr. Chinedu Angus Chukwuji, has lost his father. This sad occurrence was made public during the week. 

In a Facebook post he shared recently, the General Manager released the burial arrangements of his father, Late Pa Josiah Onyeogaridinma Chukwuji, which commences from the 20th of October, 2016 in Imo State.

The arrangement are as follows:

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Service of Songs at his residence, Chukwuji Compound, Ndi - Owerre, Oka, Isiala Mbano LGA by 4:00pm

Friday, October 21, 2016

Funeral Service at St. Stephen's Anglican Church,

Oka, Isiala Mbano LGA by 11:00 am

Internment follows immediately at his compound

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Outing Service at St. Stephen's Anglican Church,

Oka, Isiala Mbano LGA by 9:00 am

Late Pa Josiah Onyeogaridinma Chukwuji (JOE) is survived by wife, children, grand children and a host of relatives.

GOSPEL STAR, KENNY SAINT BEST TALKS MUSIC, COPYRIGHT AND POLITICS

 

KSB

Ace Gospel star, KENNY SAINT BEST popularly referred to as 'KSB' was recently interviewed by COSON XPRESS. In this interview, KSB sheds more light on her journey into the world of music, challenges facing the music industry, copyright issues and political stand.

Here are excerpts, enjoy!

Q: WE KNOW YOU AS AN ARTISTE, A SONG WRITER, A POLITICIAN, WHAT ELSE DO WE NOT KNOW ABOUT KSB? WHAT ELSE IS EMBEDDED IN THE KSB BRAND?

A: Well, KSB is a professional cook.  I have an online food store, it’s not been activate lately but I want to activate it. It’s on the internet and it’s called KSB foodies. We do more of sauces and soups and they are named after Nigerian celebrities. For example we have Don Jazzy, Genevieve, among others. I am also starting my e – store where you can buy my soon to be published books, music and watch my videos.

Q: MUSIC, HOW DID IT ALL START FOR YOU?

A: Music started as a reward for obeying God, and the obedience was for me to be part of a prayer team in London. God was happy with the job, and while I was with the team I was always writing down poems, I thought they were poems and didn’t realise they were songs until God told me they were songs. I didn’t start out as a backup singer for anybody, although I was in the choir but it was for a short time.

Q: LOOKING BACK AT YOUR ENTRY INTO THE MUSIC WORLD AND COMPARING IT WITH TODAY, IT HAS TO BE SAID THAT YOU’VE REMAINED VERY RELEVANT, BUT WHY GOSPEL GENRE?

A: If not Gospel then I wouldn’t be in music at all because I have so many degrees for me to fall on for a career. I wanted to become a successful career person but God hijacked me seeing my commitment and dedication to my own ambition. I was given music as a reward; there was never an inborn intention. The more I do the work of the ‘rewarder’ the more I get ‘rewarded’ and the more I want to please who is ‘rewarding’ me. Serving God brings music for me. Either I switch to hip-hop, street gospel, church praise, and church worship, any which way it comes from complete obedience to God

Q: HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED TO STAY RELEVANT IN THE NIGERIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY?

A: I would say that I am very passionate about KSB, I have a passion for me. I won’t lie to you, I am a lover of me, I want the best out of me, I want to set goals and achieve them and set higher goals. I align with the changes set in the industry. So it comes from that person who has tenacity for greatness. Music is my first constituency, and being an A &R expert, I always know what to do to get it right. Something sharing that passion with me is parenting, so I am committed to being an excellent parent and also an excellent personality either in music, which is my main constituency or even when I veer into Politics.

Q: HAVE YOU HAD ANY REGRETS BEING IN MUSIC?

A: I am not given to regrets because you could be in another industry and meet challenges you have to face head on, music has given me relevance and fulfilment. Although if I had pursued my career in oil and gas, I would have been richer and I also loved the aviation industry, I would have been an international career woman, but I faced music, it pleases God, even when I slow down, it displeases God because he tells me I am slowing down his grace and glory, so I have to run back to music. No regrets!

Q: IN YOUR OPINION WHAT IS THE GREATEST ISSUE FACING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?

A: Media buying. A lot of people have better music than what’s being aired but those that have the money to buy the media space gain the popularity, get the endorsement, and  in some cases it’s a lot of thrash been aired but you know when this thrash is overly played, before you know it, even you are singing along. On Air Personalities (OAPs) demanding for money before playing your songs is also a problem, some claim they are underpaid while those that are well paid feel they are doing you a favour, so drop something. Many people say it’s piracy that is the major issue but who would pirate a song that isn’t known? Digital downloads have made monetization of music difficult too, as people always want to download the songs for free.

Q: WHAT SOLUTIONS DO YOU PROFFER TO THESE ISSUES?

A: There is no way it won’t cost you money. It has frustrated the older artistes because we are not used to it. Those days’ songs were played for the love of the industry, this new trait is dwarfing the growth of the industry and they don’t know it. It also limits the versatility of the Nigerian music industry because people can’t get to hear the good music from the other artistes. They’ve spent millions on production and have to triple that on media airplay. The cheap way out will be to put it on YouTube, but will it get traffic when it’s not getting airplay? The best you can do is put in on social media, but that’s still limited.

Q: WE KNOW YOU AS A STRONG BELIEVER IN COPYRIGHT, YOU’VE ALSO BEEN A VOCAL POINT FOR COSON, WHY ARE YOU SO PASSIONATE ABOUT COPYRIGHT PROTECTION?

A: I wear 2 caps, one is as an artiste and the other is of a music executive. I’ve been a music executive for over 18 years; I’ve played the dual role well. Way back Kennis Music, every song we had to publish abroad, meant money was coming in, and for those whose songs were played, we paid royalties. So having such knowledge, also as Nigerians we were complaining of not having a body to collect royalties from wherever our works were been used. I would have been miserable if I had pretended not to know the upliftment a body like COSON would bring. As an artiste, that’s a way of securing your life time gratuity and even for your children when you are gone.

Q: FINALLY, IS KSB STILL LOOKING AT POLITICS?

A: Haa! It’s a life time career. I am people’s person, I want things to get better for people. I crave for the next big thing. In Nigeria, I was looking forward to the next big thing and I wanted to be a part of it, and I will be a part of that next big thing. I want to be the link between the government and the people. For me, politics is for life.