The two biggest mobile telecommunication operators in the
country, MTN Nigeria and Globacom, generated over N9bn
for the local music industry in 2014 through the
monetisation of caller tunes.

While MTN generated over N5bn for the Nigerian musical
artistes who sell their contents as caller tunes on its
platform, Globacom is said to have brought in about N4bn.
The money generated for the industry was in form of
royalties paid to music artistes who served or are still
serving as brand ambassadors to the two telecoms
companies in the year.

The Glo music ambassadors, whose contracts were recently
renewed, are Nigeria’s leading music stars, Peter and Paul
Okoye (PSquare), Oladapo Oyebanjo (D’Banj), Chinedu Okoli
(Flavour), Jude Abaga (M. I.), Oluwatobi Ojosipe (Wande
Coal), Omawumi Megbele, Bez Idakula, Burna Ogulu (Burna
Boy), Ego Ogbaro and Sammie Okposo.

Globacom also signed on hip hop sensation, Ayodeji
Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, after he terminated his
contract with MTN. It also signed on the Mavin crew of
Koredo Bello, Reekado Banks and Hadizah Blell (Di’ja).
However, the leader of the Mavin Group, Michael Ajereh
(Don Jazzy) leads other music artistes on the MTN network.
He is joined by Tiwa Savage, Sidney Esiri (Dr. Sid),
Olanrewaju Fasasi (Sound Sultan), Iyanya Mbuk, Chidinma
Ekile, Bankole Williams (Banky W), Kingsley Okonkwo (KCee)
and David Adeleke(Davido).

MTN also recently signed on the visually impaired music
artiste and producer, Cobhams Asuquo.
Our correspondent obtained the figures from the
telecommunications companies on Wednesday, and plans to
announce an on-demand music service.

An employee in the Corporate Affairs Division of Globacom,
who pleaded anonymity, said that apart from paying “about
N4bn in form of royalties to Glo music ambassadors, Glo
have plans to lead the music streaming business in the
future, which the valuation is estimated to be about $
8.5bn (N1.7tn).”

He said Globacom’s interest in the music streaming business
might be due to the decline in digital download business,
adding, “The streaming business is projected to grow at
almost 40 percent annually and will probably be over $2bn
(N393bn) business in 2016.”

It was gathered that the new and rising stream of revenue
for the telecoms firms might have accounted for the recent
scramble for top music artistes in the country by both
Globacom and MTN.

While MTN declined to renew the contracts of some of its
music brand ambassadors last month, Globacom quickly
poached them with higher bids.

However, aside the over N5bn generated for the music
industry, MTN said the brand ambassadorship, appearances
and performances fees made for the artistes amounted to
over N500m.

“MTN has invested more than N1bn in talent discovery and
development through the Project Fame sponsorship
platform,” the company’s General Manager, Corporate
Affairs, Miss Funmi Onajide, said.

“The recent rebasing of the country’s Gross Domestic
Product puts the contributions of the entertainment/music
sector at $7bn (N1.4tn) of the total value of $510bn
(N100.4tn). This represents 3.7 per cent contributions to the
total GDP growth,” she added.

According to her, MTN’s leadership contribution in the sector
has impacted positively on the lives of Nigerian creative
talents.

SOURCE: http://primebaze.com/forum2_theme_112058901.xhtml?tema=7

Chai,,, wah a huge some of moni.....


I refused to be poor.....