Talentz Bank: Think Outside the Nigerian Music Box.

Let’s begin to think outside the Nigerian music box.

Let’s deal with the boxed thought that only ‘silly watered down’ music sells. The fans of this kind of music are just one set of fans and this game –of music – is fast becoming a very large one. Those who know that they don’t fit into this ‘box’ should stop squeezing themselves in. When you do, you end up coming out ‘disfigured’. Just communicate (through) your music, and your fans will find you.

Do not hesitate to showcase your uniqueness. Lagbaja does without an apology. And lagbaja is easily identified-both home and abroad. Yet he is ‘commercial’.

Upcoming acts should stop trying to follow suit what some desperate music acts do in other to succeed. That is, recording ‘meaningless upbeat’ songs and saying they are being commercial. That’s not commercial. That’s gibberish. These songs- are not classics neither are they a brand of music. They are just songs that will fade away quickly and may not be enjoyed many years to come. They water down the talent and brand of the singer.

This situation has caused it that, those who can’t afford to imitate, lose hope, and think they may not succeed.

“Everybody is born a genius. It will be wrong to call a fish dumb because it cannot climb a tree”.

Do Embrace Your YOUniqueness.

If your music and ideas are always ‘out of the box’, then let them be. Don’t force yourself on a market (and a set of fans) that is probably not yours. Go where you are appreciated. Find it. Stop wasting resources (money, time and talent) trying to convince this pack of fans to like you. That’s not being commercial, that’s being imposing. And you might end up being seen as annoying despite your tremendous talent. (Can you think of examples of such cases in the industry?) Hence, in your bid to gain popularity, you have only gained convincing them and showing them why they shouldn’t like or buy your music.

If you’ve found your niche, and you have some time dropped it...

Go back, pick it up, and embrace it.

Don’t fight the situation.

You are not like the rest of the pack. Accept this fact and work with it. Consciously differentiate yourself from the rest. Do your music well, communicate, package and sell. In short, engage the elements of music marketing and you shall be successful.

People love different. They love new. They love fresh.

They’ll notice unusual. It’s not a disadvantage after all.