The end of 2015 promises to be a storm of albums
So
finally, we are headed to a grandstand finish. 2015, with all its
minimal twists and turns have finally woken up to its true potential.
September,
October, November, and December,
have seen a flurry of activity from
Nigerian artistes who are looking to end the year on a high. Albums are
dropping in quick succession, deals are being signed, the promoters are
in overdrive, PR specialists are on the frontburnner, and managers are
at risk of burnout.
Inside word has it that there are more albums to
come. A minimum of 10 albums are primed and ready for release this year.
That is, in the remaining three months, we will have 10 albums to
listen to.
Why this is happening is no surprise.
There has been no stand out performer this year, with all the lifespan
of a hit song getting shorter. Consumer attention is all over the place,
and for a song to stick around for long, it has to be extra special. At
the moment, only Patoranking’s ‘My woman, my everything’, is still
having its moment in the sun. Tekno’s ‘Duro’ is still on the rise, and
the rest are in a pool of good songs.
Artistes are on the rush to get their next big hit.
Everyone who is ripe for a new injection of life into their career
understands this, and needs the relevance. This relevance is what can be
converted into financial gain.
Another huge
factor for this is the coming of the festive season. These months are on
record as the time of celebration, where the event planners will aim to
put on a spectacle, and entertain the world. Booking agents are already
on a roll, with deals signed and performance fees exchanged.
These artistes need the fees to come to them. A
majority of concerts organized in Nigeria are pop-oriented. The
organisers are more likely to call on the services of artistes who are
currently riding on the wave of a good song. Past glory is a factor for
booking, but a current hit will put you at the front of the line.
Wande
Coal has released his album today (October 26), and it sure looks good
from my end. A little surf through twitter will also bring in all the
good vibes. This album is pivotal to the rest of the year because of
what it represents. It will usher a flood of albums.
Many acts who had previously planned to drop their
album, kept it on hold for Wande Coal’s album to be released. Such is
his star power and fan base, that the release of his album will be the
stuff of the news for days on end. It has been unveiled today.
The
endgame of music as an art is the celebration of artistry, and how it
connects with the people. This forthcoming avalanche of albums is good
for the art. More music can never be enough music.