Departing

Capital Hill Records artist and Soundcity Music Video Awards winner Kel appears to be on her way out of the label where her debut album, The Investment was released. According to a source from the record label owned by dexterous music video director, Clarence Peters, Kel has signified her interest in leaving his label.

"She has said she wanted to leave and I think Clarence is going to allow her," the source said. The source however revealed that she would not be allowed to walk away so easily as her contract is till March 2011. "She owes the label for promotion, production and music video costs; so if she wants to leave, she will have to pay a huge sum I believe."

However, Kel's spokesperson Osagie Osarenkhoe refutes the story, "We are just reviewing the possibility of contract extension as her contract is coming to an end with Capital Hill Records," she said. "We are currently in talks with the management of the label and everything should be wrapped soon."

In the meantime, Capital Hill Records producer and recording artist Tha Suspek, is out with a new single. The single, ‘Mugu' features Chocolate City rapper and 2009 Hennessy Artistry winner Ice Prince.. Next

P-Square – I Love You (Video)

New Video for P-Square's "I Love You" Track. Video is very song and the song is also great.

Enjoy

Ini Edo is New Face Of Chivita

Top nollywood actress Ini Edo is the new face of Chivita, a popular juice drink in Nigeria.

Ini Edo is already a very successful actress in Nollywood, and now she's bagged a nice deal from Chivita. She put pen to paper late last year for the mouth-watering contract and currently, all arrangements have been planned and sealed to fly the amiable screen diva to Ghandhi country, India to shoot a world-class commercial.

Congrats to her and wish her all the best

DR. Sid takes a break from rap music

SIDNEY ESIRI popularly known as DR. SID has said he's leaving rap music to experiment on singing and other genres in his upcoming album. The University of Lagos graduate of Dentistry who first came under the spotlight as a member of ELDEE THA DON's TRYBE RECORDS has always been known as a rapper before he joined MO HITS RECORDS.

DR SID presently has three (3) singles from his forthcoming album titled TURNING POINT in circulation and he didnt render the kind of rap he was known for in any of them, suggesting he wanted to delve into MO HITS' trademark commercial style.

"I'm taking a break from rap music in the meantime, im an entertainer so i want to show that side of me. I can't really sing well but the album is called TURNING POINT and its supposed to be a new level for me so i'll just have fun with it. On my upcoming album, no rap." DR SID said.

Beanpole set to drop debut album

SOPE TI E crooner BEANPOLE is currently putting final touches to his debut album which is bound to hit the shelves sometime in the first quarter of this year. The album is tentatively titled REALITY.

Some of the artistes he collaborated with on the 12-tracker album include JAHBLESS, REMINISCE, 9ICE and LORD OF AJASA.

Four Years After Wife’s Death, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya Remarries

It was a blend of glamour, fun and spirituality as the senior pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, Pastor Daniel Taiwo Odukoya exchanged vows with his new wife, the former Miss Rosemary Simangele Zulu, a South African.

The event, incorporating the wedding service and reception, took place at the classy Grand Banquet Hall of the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event was graced by a retinue of who is who in what is known in Christendom as the vineyard of the Lord.

The occasion also had in attendance the deputy governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Sarah Sosan as well as the first lady of the state, Mrs. Fashola. Some of the very top ministers officiated at the wedding service. The London-based Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo of KICC announced the proceedings of the service. Bishop Mike Okokwo of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission Church (TREM), whom Pastor Odukoya always professes to be his father-in-the-Lord, conducted the exchange of vows by the new couple.

An exhortation which was thought-provoking was delivered by Bishop David Oyedepo of the Winners Chapel. The General Overseer of the Redeemed Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye pronounced the final blessings on the couple.

The service was marked by a medley of musical renditions climaxing with the classical Hallelujah Chorus by a selected group of members of the choir of The Fountain of Life Church.

The bridal train was a nuclear family affair. The two daughters of Pastor Odukoya, Tolu and Tobi were the bridesmaids with the elderly one serving as the chief bridesmaid. Jimi, Pastor Odukoya’s only son so far, was the best man.

The reception ceremony was pervaded by an air of conviviality as the ministers of God who waited for it let down airs, cracking jokes and bantering. The groom, Pastor Odukya was assiduously grilled by the master of ceremony, Akin Oshibajo who is the attorney-general of Ogun State and a pastor in The Fountain of Life Church. He insisted that Pastor Odukoya should repeat the kissing session which he said was done rather perfunctorily during the wedding service.

Pastor Itua Ighodalo who supervised the cake-cutting session also got the audience reeling with laughter and Pastor Odukoya squirming, as he made some obliquely risqué jokes allowed in a setting of that nature.

Pastor Paul Adefarasin who proposed the toast also riveted the audience with his account of how Pastor Odukoya agonized over how to chase his new wife.

Pastor Odukoya in a fuller measure thrilled the gathering with an account of the courtship period.

Other guests at the ceremony included some members of the church, friends and family members including relations of Pastor Odukya’s late wife, Bimbo.

Banky scores another hit- Lagos Party

No, it’s not a brand-new single- because we are yet to finish digesting the ‘W Experience’ (his latest album released last December). Rather, it’s a clean, on-point video that’s going to keep the streets screaming his name for the next God-knows-how long.
Smooth talking singer, Banky W, a k a Mr capable is first to colour the tubes from the music stable this 2010. On the fifth day of this year (Tuesday), Banky uploaded the official ‘Lagos Party’ video on the world wide web. This represents the second video to be released off his second Nigerian album- the W Experience, having released his first single video ‘Strong Ting’ in the last quarter of last year.



The song ‘Lagos Party’ was produced by Dokta Frabz and the video directed by Kemi Adetiba for Dragon Fly Productions. Shot in Lagos, the star-studded video features El Dee Da Don, Omawunmi, Peter and Paul Okoye (P-Square), 2-shotz, Waje, M.I, DJ Zeez, BBN Winner Ebuka and a host of others.

In auto party mood, the dressed to kill cast partied with the best of wines, popping champagne without restrain in a huge cream house labeled ‘The EME mansion’ (EME meaning, Empire Music Emirates- Banky’s label). Banky arrived with some friends in a posh auto with number plate ‘W’ and strolls into the EME mansion where the party’s already in motion. Chief bar tender was big brother El Dee while 2-Shotz lounged in the VIP.

Lots of beautiful damsels grooved to the beat, while the guys looked effortlessly great without patronising the blings. Good actors, clean pictures with flicks changing every two second or less, poker playing, straight-bottle drinking, restroom flings, chatting and dancing, everyone carried on like it was nobody’s birthday. Mr W and Kemi Adetiba kept this video clean yet brilliant in all ramifications showing a peaceful high-class Lagos party... Lolade Sowoolu


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PMAN signs music distribution network deal

A turning point came the way of Nigerian musicians today when the leadership of the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) signed a Music Distribution Network (MDN) deal with Lafrique Pro Media, a leading expert in tracking, management and Identification Technology; to put in place a formal distribution system for music products and international repertoires in Nigeria.
Addressing newsmen at the PMAN Secretariat, on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, when the agreement was signed, PMAN President, Admiral Dele Abiodun who lamented that the music industry has been negatively affected by unavailability of structures that can protect musicians from exploiters said, the initiative will change the face of the music industry in Nigeria for better and give musicians a role to play in national development.

“We are under siege by pirate who steal our work and sell them far and wide while watching us wallow in abject poverty and penury. We are under siege by politicians who promises us heaven and earth in order to use our popular appeal to win votes and then turn their back on us after getting into office.

We are under are undeniably under siege by our own ignorance about the business of music and more importantly, we under siege because there are no structures on ground to protect us from all those exploiting us”.

Therefore, as part of moves to correct the anomalies that have set the music industry back, other components of the MDN includes designing and rolling out an Intellectual Property (IP) database of all music works produced in Nigeria and their authors such that a traceable and transparent system for verifying ownership of works; the distribution network to facilitate prompt payment of royalties to musicians; and the launching of an anti – piracy team that will work in consonance with government regulatory and enforcement agencies that would ensure compliance with intellectual property laws

Chief Emeka Dike, President – General, Alaba International Market Association who was present at the event declared the readiness of the market to support Nigerian musicians

9ice plans 2nd album in 2months

9ice has confirmed that he is preparing a new album for a March release and not just that, there will also be four other albums to follow before the year runs out. Is it a grandeur plan?

Contrary to the impression that his album is doing poorly, 9ice said in a telephone chat that his album sold over 750, 000 in its first week of release and in this week alone, another 1.5 million units have been pushed meaning that approximately 2.5million copies of ‘Tradition’ have been sold in CDs. And the next line of projects is the ‘Versus’.

He said, “a lot of people have been saying ‘why don’t you sing with this act? Why don’t you work with that act and all that. ‘Versus’ is a concept we’ve (Alapomeji Records) had for a long time and its just time for us to carry it out now. It’s a five album project and its going to be released one after the other but all this year”

The singer explained that the coming albums are so titled to accommodate their features. The first body of work is nearing completion having recorded songs with Mode 9, Da Grin and soon there’ll be a 9ice versus P-Square. The first ‘Versus’ will contain 12-tracks.

Curious about why the artiste is willing to commit hard-to-find revenue to recording five new albums which might or might not have full returns, the singer repeated that it’s (Versus) been a long time dream and the fact that he owns a personal recording studio will help cut cost.

Explaining the economics of the music business, 9ice confessed that the highest royalty paid to an artiste on every unit of CD sold is, N10. “The street hawkers get it from the marketer for N45 and sell it for N120, N150 and the cost of production of a CD is N35″, he educated.

Commenting on the terms of trading between marketers, distributors and artistes, he said, “ no marketer can give N50m on any album, even to those who sell out their album rights outrightly to marketers. Forget about anything you have heard before now or been told in that direction because it never happens.

As for me, I’d rather be paid royalties”.

9ice’s ‘Tradition’ is being distributed by Soforte distributors, an independent distribution company managed by Gbenga Goerge (gospel singer Lara George’s husband cum manager) and operating outside the famous Alaba market.

On what his experience, doing business with Soforte is like, the ethnic singer said, “there are lots of difference.
For once you can know exactly how much you’ve sold. My marketer (in Soforte) can call me up and show full statistics of distribution for my CD.

With Alaba, you don’t get that. The marketer will be afraid that if they show you the record of sales, you might do your own calculation and then find out that he (the marketer) has robbed you and then you (the artiste) will start making demands”.

Overall, the talented father of one expressed optimism for the new year. And even though ‘Tradition’ isn’t heavy on radio, music pundits believe that a good album grows on people with time. Hence, ‘Tradition’ just might settle in as soon as people get to assess and enjoy the album as a fresh body of work and not viewed comparatively with ‘Gongo Aso’...Lolade Sowoolu

9ice announces separation from Toni Payne.

Nigerian traditional hip-hop artist 9ice has announced his separation from his wife, Toni Payne. The couple has agreed to separate for a while, even though they continue to remain good friends and business partners. Their baby Zion will reside with Ms. Payne for now. Neither 9ice nor Toni will be granting any press interviews on this matter."

The musician wedded Toni Payne on July 2008. The two dated before 9ice achieved nationwide success.

This is really a sad story, we hope everything eventually works out fine.

Have a great weekend

Sound Sultan Ft MI- Light up Naija

SOUND SULTAN just dropped a brand new single titled 2010. The song which features rap sensation MI is targetted at the government concerning the country's electricity status.

We hope as our artistes live up to their responsibilities as role modelby passing positive messages in their songs, our government too will live up to its responsiblities by lighting up Nigeria.

Big ups Sound Sultan!!!

Ikechukwu officially debuts on Mo' hits

Rapper IKECHUKWU aka KILLZ who has left people guessing about what his future plans are and whether or not he has joined DON JAZZY's MO' HIT RECORDS since leaving STORM RECORDS earlier this year has finally put all the rumours, he recently dropped three (3) singles off his upcoming album tentatively titled THE ALLIANCE which will be released on the stables of WFA (his own label) in collaboration with MO' HITS RECORDS meaning he is now officially one of the artistes signed on to MO'HITS RECORDS even though he's still repping his own WFA.

The three (3) singles are CRITICAL featuring D’ BANJ, NOW IS THE TIME featuring DON JAZZY and it's all on me.

Yes Media unveils plans for New Year

The management of one of Nigeria’s foremost entertainment outfits, Yes Media, has announced its plans to take centre stage in the nation’s entertainment scene with an array of world-class events scheduled to begin this month.

Disclosing this in a chat with the media recently is Mr. Tony Nwakalor, the CEO of the outfit. According to him “we have studied the situation on ground very well and we have arrived at a convenient junction where all our events this year will be the bomb. They will be the yardsticks for other entertainment companies to follow.”

He explained further, “In January, we are having an album release party for G-Xploits while all the artistes on the label will be sponsored to California for the Grammy Awards as part of our plans to expose our artistes to international limelight. We would be rounding the month off by sending a representative to the International Music Festival (MIDEM) in Cannes, France.”

In February, Tony continued “we are going to Durban in South Africa for the Premiere of ‘Two Turn Tables and a Microphone’ in February 14th and also take the G-Xploits to Atlanta in the United States for a high school tour in partnership with the Tu Pac Foundation.”

Tony reiterated that the brand “Yes” is actually a media company with a lot of Strategic Business Units (SBUs), including ‘Yes Records’- which is to function as a record label and promoter of music industry and ‘Yes TV’- which is basically supposed to function at short term on cable TV and long term on terrestrial TV. Other units are Yes FM, Yes Events and Yes Consult.

Yes Media staged concerts in Ghana, Johannesburg, Gabon and London in 2009. CEO Tony has disclosed that there will be repeat editions in the same countries including America, Dublin, Singapore, Malaysia and other cities in the new year.

Etisalat stands up with Naija comedy

It was an evening of fun, laughter and entertainment when Etisalat, Nigeria’s fastest growing telecommunications company, in partnership with the Stand-Up Nigeria comedy show, treated its subscribers and other Nigerians to rib-cracking jokes at the Christmas edition of the monthly comedy show held at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos on Sunday 27 December.

Stand-Up Nigeria is a monthly comedy show designed to entertain and liven up Nigerians with rib-cracking jokes from up-coming artists.

The December 2009 edition, anchored by one of Nigeria’s finest comedians, Teju Baby Face, witnessed high quality presentations from artists like Mojoint, Omo Jesu, Aje Baba, CD Joint, Chameleon, Nehe, MC Pato, Talk Talk and MC Pawi among others.

Adding colour to the show was Nigeria’s king of comedy himself, Alibaba, who was presented with an award for excellence by the producer of the Stand-Up Nigeria Comedy show, Bunmi Davies.

Speaking at the show, Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat, Wael Ammar noted that besides the world class services Etisalat is offering its teeming subscribers, the company also recognizes individuals’ need for relaxation and wellness. According to him,

“We understand the need for people to relax and ease out stress, so while we continue to provide Nigerians with world class telecommunications services in line with Etisalat’s heritage of innovative and qualitative services, we also continue to reach out to more people with our message of care and optimism, through partnerships such as this”.

Applauding the support of Etisalat for Stand-Up Nigeria, the producer, Bunmi Davies said in a statement that Etisalat is the only telecommunications company known to support stand up comedy in Nigeria.

According to him, “This partnership could not have come at a better time considering the festive season. We appreciate this support and ask that Etisalat does not relent in its support and appreciation for stand-up comedy in Nigeria”.

Other stand up acts also severally commended Etisalat not just for its pioneering and innovative ways of changing the telecommunications landscape in Nigeria but also for its show of support for the creativity that goes into the stand-up comic business.

Veteran stand-up act who has severally been described as the ‘King of Comedy’ in Nigeria, Ali Baba, noted that Etisalat’s support for the stand-up comedy genre, means well for the entertainment industry in Nigeria and will create jobs and other opportunities for thousands of young talented Nigerians.