Entertainment
Artiste Decries High Cost Of Music Production
A Port Harcourt based artiste and song writer Reginald Bekinbo popularly known as JahReigns has lamented the high cost of music production in Rivers State.
Bekinbo who is also the acting chairman of the Performing Musicians Employers Association Of Nigeria (PMAN) Rivers Chapter made this known in an interview with The Tide Entertainment yesterday.
According to him, the cost of music production in the State is becoming alarming.
He explained that for one to get a music done you will have to pay twenty-five thousand naira (#25,000) for a track and pay an extra amount for fuel where there is no power, saying that this does not get the work done, as the 25,000 fee covers the voiceover only.
“ It is quite disheartening that you pay such an amount for just a track’s voiceover, then you take to another Studio for the Mix and master of the song, which would cost you not less than #20’000 for upcoming artistes at my level. It does not end there each time you go for mixing you have to buy fuel for the mixer which does not include promotion and videoing of the song,” he lamented.
He said that as an artiste, he also has a clothing store just to support his career, saying most singers have chosen the brain drain for themselves and you can not blame them because it is difficult to excel as an Artiste here in the State.
“ It is clear why people go to Lagos to establish their career. Just imagine a situation where someone heard my song and wanted to meet me and some other person told him that if he wanted to see me he should come to Victoria Street, the young man said he thought l should be in Lagos and they eventually found me at Victoria Street in Port Harcourt. Where l have my clothing store. What could be more degrading? Situation like that devalues your person as an Artiste, l mean, it depreciates your worth,” he added.
Bekinbo who recently released a video on one of his singles titled “Ngwanu” said that though the video has not been played in a cable station, could be downloaded from the internet, noting that the cost of shooting and promoting a video or song is alarming.
“ It is not easy at all,, I met the cable guy and he said that for International and Local promo for the video is eight hundred and fifty naira(850,000) while for local, here would cost me four hundred and fifty naira(450.000).
I am yet to afford the fee. If you go to Redem Station to play your audio you will pay not less than two hundred naira, so what we do is to befriend DJ’s and in a studio you have up to three DJ’s you will give them #20,000 and then, make sure to send them callcard at least three times in a month.
He said that if well-meaning individuals in the State would do well to extend helping hand or support the music industry it will go a long way to motivating Artistes in the State.
He however mentioned king of Okochiri, Kingdom, His Royal Father Ateke Tom as an individual and Gravings Records as an organization that have been supportive, saying that each time they to perform for them they made sure to at least take care of them.
“ If the needed motivation is given l tell you, with a million naira we could realize five Million in three months,” he assured.
By: Nancy Briggs
Popular businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana Chief Priest, has said that his relationship with singer Davido is beyond money and gossip.
He stated this in a recent interview with BBC Igbo.
“Davido is my friend. He is my in-law; he married Chioma who is from Imo State where I hail from.
“So the relationship I have with Davido is beyond money and gossip,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that Chief Priest disclosed via his Instagram page that his outfit for the wedding of the singer, Davido and his wife, Chioma, in Lagos on Tuesday cost seven million Naira.
The socialite recently appreciated Davido for not “discarding” Chioma.
He stated that the DMW boss has made Imo State proud by choosing to marry from the state.
Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has lent her voice to the ongoing anti-tax hike protests in Kenya.
The Tide’s source reports that Kenyan youths are marching against tax hike in widespread demonstrations tagged ‘RejectFinanceBill2024.’
Five people were shot dead and dozens wounded after police clashed with protesters who stormed the parliament building in Nairobi on Tuesday, according to Amnesty Kenya.
Reacting via her X handle on Tuesday night, Simi declared her support for the demonstrators.
She stated that “it is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights.”
The singer wrote, “I stand with the people of Kenya. It is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights. Godspeed and Strength. [Hash tag] RejectFinanceBill2024.”
In a series of other posts, she wrote: “Wow. When you’ve had enough, the fight is almost inevitable.
“African leaders- have not you done enough?
“I can’t wait for the day Africa is not a weapon fashioned against Africans. All of this amazing Black power and human resource, but the majority are not likely to thrive unless they run.”
Famous Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Davido was spotted among other top artistes at Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour concert in Atlanta, Georgia.
Asake’s performance at his sold-out show at the 17,000-capacity State Farm Arena in Atlanta began on August 16, 2024, and is set to run for 10 days.
In a trending video on social media, Davido appeared backstage with American rapper Quavo to support Asake during the live performance.
Other musicians in attendance included Nigerian hitmaker Zlatan and American rapper Russ Millions.
The Tide’s source reports that Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour is set to cover six U.S. cities, where he will headline notable venues including Madison Square Garden in New York, the Toyota Center in Houston, and the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Asake’s tour comes just days after the release of his latest hit, ‘Lungu Boy,’ which features several superstars, including Wizkid, British rappers Central Cee and Stormzy, Travis Scott and Brazilian singer Ludmilla.
‘Lungu Boy’ set a new record for the biggest opening week on Spotify Nigeria, garnering 18.9 million streams in its opening week and breaking the previous record of 14.4 million streams held by Davido’s ‘Timeless.’
