Music strangles people -GT The Guitarman

GT

Notable musician, GT The Guitarman, remains one of Nigeria’s music success stories, even if he’s not as visible as he once was, because he took a break.

Oseyiza Oogbodo Blog spoke with him recently on the state of the music industry, on if it’s developing as some say it is and others say it isn’t.

And considering his years of experience in music, he should know the industry’s true state.

And he lived up to his billing, responding that “well, there’s a whole lot that we can thank God for, because, I mean, it’s not the way it used to be, even though the structure is still not there, but there are loads of people making money from the industry, I mean, there’s a rule and there are exceptions.

“For every 1,000 failed musicians out there, you’ll still find like ten Olamides, Davidos and the likes who are, who, regardless of all odds, have been able to make something out of their craft. We all know what PR costs. And not just PR, effective PR. We know what it costs to shoot a video, what it costs to record songs with the likes of Cobhams.

“So, the music industry itself has a way of strangling people. Yeah, it has a way of strangling artists. But then, for any industry to exist, there has to be proper investment. You can’t just say because you’re talented, you expect the whole world to fall at your feet, it’s not possible. There’s a place of the investors and there’s a place of the artists.

“But all we’ve been clamouring for is a situation whereby there’s proper remuneration for efforts, you know, of the artists from the PMAN angle to the COSON, to the royalties that is supposed to be accrued to us and a whole lot of other things. There are just a whole lot of issues that need to be worked on, but then, hopefully we’ll get there. But I’m loving the new set of guys that are striving and putting their blood, sweat and tears into getting people entertained.”

Well said, G.