Did You Know

What did the Afrobeats inherit from Jùjú Music? A significant thing the Afrobeats genre inherited from the traditional Jùjú music is the “Call-and-Response” vocal tradition. Peculiar to Jùjú music, the vibrant call-and-response tradition is one whereby the lead vocalist (usually the artist himself) presents a line or phrase known as the “Call”, while the backing vocalists (or sometimes, the audience) responds with a complementary phrase known as the “response“. This is now very common in contemporary Afrobeats as you can hear echoes of this in Afrobeats where lead artists frequently engage their background vocalists or audience during live performances & even within recorded tracks. What this does is that it gives the audience a participatory feel in the case of live performances and gives off a vibe of uniform energy and connection in recorded tracks. Afrobeats artists renowned for this include Burna Boy, Rema, Omah Lay, amongst others. Which other Afrobeats artist comes to mind after reading this? @Alaro Basit

Collaboration Deals vs. Record Deals As far as the music industry is concerned, artists, producers and other music creatives are subject to different types of agreements and deals. However, these deals may either come off as detrimental or instrumental, which is why it is not just enough to be a creative, but it is also essential for you to possess a deep understanding of the intricacies governing these different types of deals as they concern the music industry. To this effect, this paper seeks to explore the differences between collaboration deals and record deals as they’re both fundamental to creatives in the music industry. In short, the key differences between these two stem from the tripod of ownership, control and profit sharing. Thus, while collaboration deals are flexible, and in some ways, more artist-friendly, record deals are sophisticated and require more prudence. Stay informed, stay creative! @Alaro Basit

DYK? Two facts you probably don’t know about the Legendary Fela Kuti! Did you know that the music legend & Afrobeats pioneer initially set out to be a medical doctor? Fela Kuti was on his way to bag a MBBS degree in the UK before making a sudden swerve into the music world with a unique Afrobeat sound that blended traditional Nigerian sounds with foreign genres like jazz and funk. It would also interest you to learn that in 2021, Fela was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, due to his pace-setting contributions to the music industry and the world of social activism at large. Picture him as an Albert Einstein of the music world! @Alaro Basit

DYK? The Infamous “Friday Release” Rule Did you know that, until 2015, the global release day for new music were Tuesdays? It was in a bid to eradicate piracy & coordinate chart tracking in the music market that it was shifted to “Fridays” starting with Beyoncé’s eponymous fifth studio album. The unofficial announcement was made on the 11th of June, 2015 by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which represents the global music recording industry. Key Notes: Never stop creating! @Alaro Basit

DYK? The Mozart Effect The Mozart effect simply purports that your own art might just be the therapy you need. It provides that listening to your own music can help boost your creativity, memory, enhance mental clarity and cognitive skills in general. Need more reasons why you should listen to yourself more? Embrace, create and stay inspired. Never stop creating!

DYK? DYK: The Music Color Theory Did you know that associating colors with your music can enhance your brand identity and emotional connection with listeners? This is perched on the tripod stand of colour psychology, visual branding and emotional appeal. Take a walk with me; Stay colorful, stay creative!

DYK Did you know that as lucrative as audio sampling can be to music production, it can also subject you to legal issues & not-so-friendly lawsuits? Well, here’s how to make music without facing the music. First of, it is germane to note the following; 1. Sampling laws: In the US and all other countries that may employ their sampling laws, producers are required to clear samples with the original copyright holders before use. The issue with this being that it can be pocket-draining and time-consuming. 2. Fair use: This means that in some instances, some samples may be considered as “fair use” as they allow a music producer the limited privilege of using a copyrighted material without legal permission. Simply, this implies that some part of the copyrighted material is free for use. 3. Creative sampling: Here, the ball is totally in your court as a music producer. If you play your cards well, sampling can be a creative way to pay homage to other artists, add texture to your tracks, or even create something entirely new. This is evident in Buju’s “Pidgin & English” and even in Rema’s latest single, “Baby is it a crime?” Key Takeaway: As a music producer; Never stop creating, never stop producing!