The music industry has become one of the fastest growing industry in the entertainment world, both locally and globally, as entertainment is now contributing immensely to countries economic growth. The music industry is very competitive, and many upcoming artists are not taking wise steps to improve their exposure and popularity.
As Nigeria’s No. 1 Music & Entertainment Website, we feel all these ineffective moves by our upcoming artists should not continue in 2021, as there are lots of amazing talents wasting away because they are not doing the right things. This list is not to crucify upcoming artists, but to serve as a wake up call for you to start taking the right step so that you can hit the mainstream market.
DISCLAIMER
Nobody has the key for you to reach stardom. Your content and level of hunger for success are the two basic determinants to become a star. Do the right things and see yourself becoming relevant. If it was easy, Korede Bello won’t be struggling under Don Jazzy. You should understand this statement better. Below are the Top 5 Reasons we think some upcoming artistes will not still “blow” until they do the needful:
1. Desperate Search For Record Label
Many upcoming artists in Nigeria still care about getting signed to a record label and think it is the key to becoming a star. Hell No! Y’all are getting it wrong. Oladips was way hotter in the industry prior to signing to Reminisce‘s LRR records. Man be dropping bangers back-to-back then, but now he seems to have been confined to a shell of a record deal which is really affecting his career to be honest.
Instead of going all out desperately searching for a record label, why not keep doing your thing and solicit for sponsorship around from those who genuinely love your music craft. Remember, Small Doctor was helped by people who love what he does. They helped him promote his first hit single and up till today he is still doing his things solo. If your song is good enough, people will gladly want to help and associate with you when they see the potential in you. It’s easy to help a creative person.
Don’t get it twisted, we are not saying signing to a record label is not a good thing for upcoming artists, instead of going all out to look for them, work hard and make them look for you. We wouldn’t have added this part but it’s important thing to do – No good record label around like before, Blow and become your own label, it’s rewarding that way, ask Olamide
2. Lack Of Proper Funds For Promotion
Our upcoming artistes are all guilty of this attitude. After garnering money up for producing a nice song, the problem of putting such efforts in getting funds to promote the song goes down. What does it profit an artiste who recorded a nice track but ended up promoting it poorly or not promoting it in the right places?
Over the years, we’ve seen a bad song hit the mainstream and become popular, because of adequate promotion, while a good song die off because it was either not promoted at all or it was not well promoted. Imagine yourself as an artiste, after releasing a nice track in the studio then feel the next thing is to look for cheap, unpopular blogs for promotion? This will indirectly kill the buzz and waste your time as well.
It’s a known fact that blogs play a huge role in promoting artistes these days, but whatever is worth doing, is worth doing well. Don’t forget the fact that no matter how good a song is, it needs a massive audience to listen and glorify the song to the outer world. Most artistes go to sites with less notability, less traffic, and very few users, just because they do not want to spend money.
In the long run, those that will download your songs will find them on popular music blogs. Without this, no new fans for you. Work hard to promote your songs on notable website and blogs. There are certain websites that has the authority already in promoting music artistes. If looking for cheap blogs with less traffic is what you want to continue doing in 2021, If you blow, it is most likely your cooking gas that exploded.
3. Not Paying Attention To Some Little But Important Details When Dropping Songs
As an upcoming artiste, one of the reasons you might not ‘blow‘ in 2021 is that you have refused to pay close attention to areas that make up a good song.
Song Title
Little details like the song title, you should pick a song title that is easy to relate with by all class of people, from young to old. How can you expect to get an hit song when your song title is wack. Most hit songs in Nigeria today are just 3, 4 or 5 letter in them. Talk about Soco, Fia, Fever, If and others *Forget Shepeteri .
If your title must be long, it has to be something trending. Just like when Trod released “Lazy Nigerian Youths“, the title alone will make you want to listen because, that was trending then.
Use your Face on your Artwork
Secondly, as an upcoming artiste, endeavor to always use your face in your artworks, so that fans can register your face in their heads and also feel connected with you. When you finally blow, putting your face in all artworks might not always be necessary.
Add Your Social Media Handles On Artwork
Meanwhile, lots of upcoming artistes do artworks without including their social media handles. This is a mistake that can cost you lifetime opportunity. We have received mails from some big record companies to provide contact details of some upcoming acts who promote songs on Naijatastic.
While some were lucky we found their contacts, some were not but guess what? If they had included their social media handles in their artwork, the record companies would have contacted them directly.
However, it is important to note that your artwork design really tells how serious you are with your career. No one will download your song if your artwork is whack. In most cases, the dopeness of your artwork gives people the impression that your music is dope.
So, before you start using that your Alakuko or Alagbado graphics designer in 2021, think about it well.
4. Famzing A-List Artistes On Social Media
Dear Upcoming Artistes,
Stop that low spirited acts in 2021 as part of your hustle to become a blown artiste.
Famzing already establish artiste on social media will not help you in anyways, rather it will demean your ego anytime the artiste bash you with a savage response. You know how savage all these A-List artistes can be atimes. Just stay loyal to your grind, when you make wavy jam, they will come looking for you. We don see enough example yapa. We are not saying you should not tag them in your Instagram videos or tweets but begging them to sign you in comments section and DMs will mean you’re worthless.
The truth is, fake love is real in the music industry, be hardworking and build your fan base in the little way you can. No one will sign you if there is no glimpse that you will be a profitable investment for them. Never!
5. Desperation To Make Money From Music As Upcoming Artiste
Most of the upcoming artistes forget the fact that their first career goal is to be known and famous for good music, but it is quite unfortunate that they easily get carried away with “Raba” to the extent that they upload their music on iTunes alone for people to buy. Why will I buy your song when I don’t even know you?
Nigerians don’t buy songs, so it’s unreasonable to start chasing money with music when your fan base is so little. Be wise, release your music materials freely for everyone to download and listen. The more people listening to your songs, the more popular you become. When you become very popular, then you can start selling your content on iTunes, Spotify, Deezer and other premium stores. It’s simple! Also some upcoming artistes charge people for shows, you never blow you dey charge for show, who wan pay you?
In 2021, change your ways and make sure you’re always on the right path.