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He
is
the
CEO
of
Chocolate
City.
He
oversees
the
record
label,
artist
management
and
events
promotion
departments
of
the
company
as
well
as
consult
for
private
companies
in
areas
relating
to
music
marketing
and
promotion,
artist
branding
as
well
as
stage
and
events
management.
Chocolate
City
is a
full-fledged
entertainment
company
that
administers
a
record
label,
artist
management,
entertainment
facility
management
(hotels,
bars
etc.),
recording
studio,
events
management
and
promotion
as
well
as
general
consultancy
for
clients.
His
responsibilities
are
basically
to
coordinate
the
various
arms
of
the
company
to
ensure
uniformity
in
the
product
and
to
ensure
they
function
separately
but
with
independently
were
necessary.
The
concept
behind
CC
is
to
create
a
one-stop
centre
for
entertainment
needs
centred
on
music,
which
is
the
constant
theme
in
our
activities.
For
example,
the
bar/clubs
we
run
are
a
meeting
point
for
our
consumers
and
help
us
evolve
a
database
for
profiling
their
views
and
taste
in
relation
to
artists
and
their
music,
while
featuring
or
show
casing
artists
in
live
sessions
or
otherwise.
The
recording
studios
we
set
up
help
artists
access
the
latest
and
best
quality
equipment
and
personnel
and
also
ensure
that
the
artist
has
adequate
time
to
hone
their
music
to
the
highest
technical
standards
ably
guided
by a
team
of
seasoned
producers
and
sound
engineers.
He
has
also
negotiated
terms
for
the
use/license
of
music
for
synchronisation
in
television
series
and
movies
on
which
is
something
he
is
particularly
pleased
with,
because
of
the
correlation
between
music
and
movies
and
no
serious
industry
can
operate
without
having
structures
in
place
to
benefit
and
exploit
from
the
extra
revenue
that
can
accrue
from
the
Nollywood
and
the
boost
it
gives
to
out
artists.
He
has
all
these
to
share
with
you:
Issues
in
the
music
industry
in
my
country
On
the
positive
side:
Nigeria
has
in
the
past
5
years
evolved
its
own
unique
sounding
music,
which
was
non-existent
after
the
likes
of
Fela,
Sunny
Ade,
Bongos
Ikwe.
The
awareness
and
response
to
our
music
is
increasing
steadily
and
rapidly,
slowly
leading
to
greater
patronage
of
our
indigenous
music,
which
of
course
has
a
positive
effect
on
album
sales
of
recording
artists.
More
corporate
bodies
have
deployed
the
use
of
artists
as
brand
ambassadors
and
icons,
which
has
led
to a
reasonable
increase
in
the
earning
avenues
and
power
of
artistes
but
in
the
long
term,
they
are
still
exploiting
the
industry
without
giving
back.
Our
music
is
gaining
more
recognition
internationally,
with
the
increasing
nominations
of
Nigerian
artists
for
international
awards
in
big
music
events
such
as
the
MTV,
MOBOS
and
Kora
awards.
The
NCC
seems
to
be
more
focused
in
its
fight
to
counter
piracy
leading
to
more
anti-piracy
awareness
which
will
help
the
cause
of
all
stakeholders
in
the
industry
Music
videos
(particularly
local
ones)
have
increased
in
quality
in
leaps
over
the
past
two
years,
giving
Nigerian
music
more
mileage
internationally.
More
people
are
getting
into
various
aspects
of
the
industry
in a
more
organised
manner
leading
to a
better
cohesion
within
stakeholders
On
the
negative
side:
There
are
no
proper
distribution
channels
to
get
the
music
to
the
consumer
and
also
track
record
sales.
Piracy
has
increased
exponentially
due
to
new
technology
(although
the
same
applies
worldwide)
however
Nigeria
has
at
least
15
world
class
duplicating
plants
operating
within
Lagos
illegally
and
robbing
the
industry
of
its
gains.
Music
industry
people
do
not
understand
the
peculiarities
of
the
music
business
and
need
to
be
educated
and
trained,
workshops
for
capacity
building
must
be
created
and
stimulated.
The
two
music
societies
(MCSN
&
PMRS)
have
failed
to
protect
artist
interests
due
to
squabbling
over
who
has
legitimacy
or
supremacy,
this
has
led
to
loss
of
royalties
to
the
artists
and
NCC's
biased
role
in
the
imbroglio
has
further
exacerbated
the
issues
therein.
PMAN
the
biggest
music
association
in
Nigeria
is
also
torn
by
internal
politics
and
has
failed
to
cater
for
the
needs
of
artists,
we
are
remedying
that
by
our
new
association.
A
key
issue
is
financing
for
the
industry,
music
has
no
source
of
financing
except
by
the
individual
efforts.
Corporate
bodies
especially
financial
institutions
only
exploit
artists
for
their
short
term
gains,
but
do
not
have
a
plans
to
create
financial
packages
for
music
promotion
and
development.
People
like
us
that
started
our
business
were
lucky
to
source
funds
without
which
this
cash
intensive
business
cannot
thrive.
No
regulatory
body
to
administer
the
music
industry
which
has
led
to
lack
of
standards
in
the
industry.
The
Nigerian
copyrights
commission
has
confined
the
us
eof
its
broad
powers
under
the
Copyright
Act
(LFN
2004)
to
burning
physical
pirated
CDS
rather
than
focusing
on
regulating
the
activities
of
the
duplicating
plants,
educating
the
public
about
the
effects
of
their
activities
and
creating
an
enabling
environment
for
music
to
thrive
in
Nigeria.
Innovative
artists
&
music
business
trends
from
my
country
An
innovative
music
artist
I
would
like
to
promote
during
the
UK
is
Djinee.
Djinee
has
training
as
an
opera
singer
but
has
been
able
to
fuse
his
unique
sounding
voice
to
local
instruments,
in
the
process
creating
a
distinct
African
sound
that
does
not
compromise
on
the
quality
of
the
music.
His
groundbreaking
singe
Ego
won
him
Best
New
Artist
at
the
2006
Nigerian
Music
awards
held
in
London.
The
song
was
also
nominated
for
Song
of
the
year
2006
at
the
same
event.
In
my
experience
most
Nigerian
artists
try
to
sound
like
foreign
acts
an
in
the
process
lose
their
originality,
Djinee
has
kept
the
Nigerian
in
him
in
his
music
and
the
blend
of
pidgin
English
in
even
rock
inspired
tracks
as
well
as
his
high
pitched
voice
stands
him
out
in
any
part
of
the
world.
His
debut
album
to
be
launched
in
April
2007
will
be a
testament
of
our
projections
on
this
awesome
artist.
Aside
from
his
vocal
dexterity
he
is a
seasoned
producer,
instrumentalists
(proficient
in
the
guitar,
conga
and
keyboard)
songwriter
and
arranger.
His
stage
presence
(inspired
by
his
Benin
roots)
has
enrapture
audiences
round
Nigeria
making
him
a
musician,
artist
but
a
consummate
performer."
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