Dear Artiste,
Happy new year. From my corner I want to sincerely wish you a good music year.
As usual it will be of interest to share my thoughts as we usher in a new year in all its enthusiasm. What plans do you have to further put your music out there?
To start with, every year comes with its trend. Unfortunately no artiste has the monopoly of the industry. Churches go for who is popular at the time and so it beckons on you to work hard, build a solid team, sign up with companies that can make you achieve a milestone in this new year.
Go beyond the social media noise to making tangible impact.
Let’s take snapshot back, in the year that just ended most gospel artistes became motivational speakers instead of cooking good music. Instead of researching and working on personal development, many waited for what song will trend and the copy-cat follows. It doesn’t end here, dependence on one producer who produced a hit to produce you will box you into a corner. This does not mean you should not work with such persons, but while doing so be yourself because the trend will only be to replicate what has been done in a slightly different way.
Have a check on your actual performance online, downloads, purchases and interactions. Viability is not just the number of likes, how many people bought your song or downloaded for free, how many real fans are you are able to gather? Beyond the church do you have enough crowd to host a sold out show?
Moving on, while working with anyone, please don’t be greedy. It’s the team’s responsibility for you all to make money and when it happens to become the boss overnight.
In this new year many artistes will emerge with great sound and massive acceptability, if the old sit tight without re-inventing they will fizzle out. Your market value drops as new acts emerge.
In this year, don’t just work towards an album, host events, tour and grow your followership across board. Seize all opportunities to build a lasting brand. For every song you release build new innovative ways to promote and push to the next level.
It’s a new year, it’s not just about doing new things, it’s about self-discovery, new method of doing things, building teams, and creating content that will last. It’s a time to build synergy and grow. Don’t wait to loose market value before you wake up. Raise new talents and re-invent yourself.
As you embark on this journey, it will be rough and sweet, it will cost you money and time. Find a means to fund your music until it starts paying off. Don’t box yourself into a location, get your content out you don’t know who is waiting just to hear your song in another location and that could be your starting point to stardom.
In 2018 on a personal note, I’d like to see more unity amongst gospel folks, not just copying and secretly not being in support of the progress of one another . It’s time to move forward not just alone but with everyone in the mini-dustry. Finally, pay for services those offering the service have bills to take care. Take your brand serious and grow it.
Unachi Sunday (Freshboii) is music blogger, radio show host and lead partner at 7Pro Media Communications a music distribution, artiste management, promotion, product development and event management company based in Abuja Nigeria. Ff on twitter/IG @iamfreshboii @iamfreshboii_ #DearARTISTE series on FB. Email: sunnyunachi@gmail.com
