As the bells jingle, jangle and jiggle, chime, clang and clatter, we rejoice at the approach of the birth of Jesus Christ whose life on earth was anchored on honour, humility, service, and dedicated to the redemption of mankind. Just like a flash in the pan, the year 2009 has finally come to an end. It’s indeed a year that brought lots of changes and threw up lots of surprises in the music industry. 9ice moved into his own house, Eldee’s wife gave birth to their first baby, Soforte introduced the first automated CD marketing/distribution system in Nigeria, Soul E and Queen U’re broke up, amongst so many other happenstances. The rhythm of the year was compelling and the tempo hypnotizing. There were crazy parties like we were all conscripted to encourage wild life. It’s been manifold of events that suggest that the awaited arrival of the music industry was nigh and now we are kissing the same year good bye. Glitz Stage chronicles all the happenstances and brings you The Good, The Bad and The Ugly with other interesting events that characterized the year 2009 in our music industry.
THE GOOD
THE FIGHT AGAINST PIRACY
For the first time in the industry, stakeholders in the music industry came together to form a coalition known as the Nigeria Music Industry Coalition and staged a rally against piracy. It is really an instrumental change even though the ideal was not welcomed in some quarters. The rally attracted the attention of the president, His Excellency- Umaru Musa Yar’adua and he personally wrote a letter to the pirates in Alaba to desist from all such acts or face the full wrath of the law. Few weeks back, a pirate kingpin- Mr. Tony Onwujekwe of Shop AB2 Ubakason Plaza was arrested inside Alaba International Market and is currently believed to be in police custody.
SOFORTE BERTHS
Due to the lack of good marketing/distribution system in Nigeria, we all got used to the unprofessional CD qualities and marketing system of the marketers in Alaba Market. As if everything was divinely arranged, Soforte berthed in Nigeria. Soforte is Nigeria’s first automated CD marketing/distribution network. Nigerian artistes will as from now earn royalties genuinely from their album sales unlike the fraudulent system of the past. Artistes working with Soforte can also go online at every point in time to check the number of CDS sold. The company marketed 9ice, Lara George and Koffi’s Workerman Movement album this year. Chocolate City, Mo’Hits and Storm Records are in talks with them concerning their subsequent album projects.
NIGGA RAW, SOUND SULTAN, K-SOLO AND ILL BLISS
Two Nigerian rappers, Dat Nigga Raw and Ill Bliss including talented singer, Sound Sultan and famous producer- K-Solo all quit bachelorhood this year. All the marriages took place in Lagos.
EGO TIES THE KNOT
While some marriages are crumbling like pack of cards, popular songstress- Ego and her husband re-married again in Lagos. The wedding witnessed the attendance of lots of her colleagues and other celebrities.
9ICE BECAME A LANDLORD
Rave singer, Abolore Akande, a.k.a 9ice became a house owner. The cream coloured duplex already christened Alapomeji Villa is located in a private estate in Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
NMVA RECLAIMED GLORY
The third consecutive outing of the NMVA was impressive unlike last year when it recorded little success. Even without a corporate sponsorship, the award ceremony bounced back to reckoning.
MAMA TOO
After a poor outing last year which coincidentally was the debut edition, the MTV African Music Awards (MAMA), bounced back big time in its second edition which held in Kenya.
THE PULSE AND BUSTA RHYMES COLLABO
2009 winners of Star Quest, The Pulse, finally cemented fame eternally by featuring American rapper, Busta Rhymes in the remix of their popular single, So Te.
WANDE COAL AND MI
It was indeed a great year for Wande Coal and MI. The two acts joined the mainstream acts and headlined so may shows in the country. Wande Coal also released one of the best albums of 2009 with a great repertoire of hits.
NBC SWINGS TO ACTION
The Nigerian Broadcating Corporation (NBC) took a swipe at songs with bad lyrics especially the ones that glorified alcoholism, sex and fraudulent vices. NMVA and HHWA further made a good statement by not nominating the affected songs in their awards categories.
PUFFY T SURVIVES AUTO CRASH
Rave producer, Puffy T survived auto crash earlier this year along Lagos- Ibadan express way.
THEB BAD
AFICAN CHINA BATTERED
Reggae act, Afican China was battered earlier this year during a video shoot. There was a little misunderstanding which led to a serious beating.
SAMMIE OKPOSO, ATORISE, Dr. PAT AND K-SOLO
Despite all the blessings the year brought for the following acts, they still shed tears at a particular point in time. Sammie Okposo and K-Solo lost their dads while Atorise and Dr. Pat lost his mum.
3GGA AND RHYMZO
Austrian Nigerian based reggae act, 3gga and Ryhmzo were entangled in a war of words over the copyright owner of the song Satisfy Me. They accused each other of insincerity
THE UGLY
AZADUS LOSES ONLY SON
Dancehall act, Olalekan Fadeyi, a.k.a Azadus lost his only son to the cold hands of death. It was really a bad period for him and his wife- Seun.
TIMAYA AND EMPRESS NJAMAH
Dancehall act –Timaya and his ex-lover-Empress Njamah had a brawl this year. What made the occurrence uglier was that it occurred during the church service. We heard the act accused Empress of double dating and as such he attempted to retrieve one his cars from Empress under very controversial circumstances.
TEE-MAC AND DELE ABIODUN
Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) still remains an object of controversy especially with two factions. Dele Abiodun forcefully took over the secretariat form Tee-Mac after the law had pronounced him the authentic president of the association.
THE BIGGEST EVENTS OF 2009
NMVA- Without corporate sponsorship, Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) bounced back to reckoning. The organizers staged one of the most colourful music events in 2009.
Hip Hop World Awards (HHWA)
Thisday Music Festival
The Experience
Souncity Music Video Awards (SMVA)
Ovation Red Carol
Kennis Music Ester Fiesta
Out Of Africa with Sammie Okposo
MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA)
Star Mega Jamz
OTHER ISSUES
*Soul E and Wife- U’re broke up and dumped each other like a bad habit
* D’Banj launched his TV reality show- Koko Mansion and hangout known as Koko Lounge
* Tee A launched his lounge called Tyme Out Restaurant and Comedy Lounge.
* Ikechukwu quits Storm Records to Join Mo’Hits
* Kelly Hansome and Kennis Music parted ways
ALBUMS RELEASED IN 2009
Blacktribe- Addicted
Lara Goerge- Lara George
Eva- Eva
Lagbaja- Sharp Sharp
Kefee- A Piece of Me
Terry G- Ginger Ur Swagger
Djinee- Djinee
Olu Maintain- With All Due Respect
9ice- Tradition
P-Square- Danger
Darey- Undareyted
African China-
Cartiar-
Obiwon- Re-birth
Danny Young- Cross Over
Banky W- W Experience
ID Cabasa- ID Entity
Steel- Mirage
Bracket- Least Expected
Gxploits- How Far
Jah Bless- Re-birth
Bigiano- Shayo
Shank- King Kong
Dagrin- Chief Executive Omota
Spy-Da-Man- No Bi Dream
Omawumi- Wonder Woman
Jaywon- Meet Jaywon
Azadus- Unbound
Bouqui- Redefinition
Kel- The Investment
Eldee- Big Boy
Wande Coal- Mushin 2 Mo’Hits
Ill Bliss- Dat Ibo Boy
Ayefele- Transformation
Ayodel- Double Portion
Yemi Sax
Midnight Crew
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