Obesere, Aydu of 2006 Big Brother Nigeria and Others Tread Like 2face With New Pricing

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Ope Banwo.

Ope Banwo-led record label, STINGOMANIA Records where Obesere, Eazy Lizy, Baba Nee, Trybson, Natural, Aydu, Ovis Tee call home would be releasing four albums from new artistes at N1000 each after a pre-sell of 20,000 copies to Wisconson, USA distribution Company at $9.99 each.
The album release would take place on 8th of August at Terra Culture.
Ope Banwo speaking on decision to toll the path blazed by one of Nigeria’s all-time stars, 2face Idibia informed:  ‘Following a critical appraisal of market trends and prevailing pricing of Nigerian music albums, we have concluded that there is no way any artiste can make money by selling an album for N35 wholesale price to distributors and it will be suicidal for our label to allow the situation to continue unchallenged. We all know it costs well over a million naira to complete a good album with at least 14-tracks. In addition to that the label or artiste has to spend another N2, 000, 0000 to make music videos and then do promotions on radio and newspapers. At the rate of N35 per copy, you have to sell over 1,000,000 copies just to break even and yet the average sales of albums released in the last year is under 100 thousand copies.”
“It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that the mathematics does not work. That is why we have not been able to release our albums into the market more than 6 months after we finished production in our studios. It was therefore imperative for us to rethink the whole pricing process and change the dynamics so that the few remaining record labels in the country do not wither and die”. He added.
The record label also signed agreement with a distribution company, Black Treasure Entertainment in Wisconson (USA) and the distribution company ordered 20 000 copies for three out of  the four new acts that are yet to be released in Nigeria.
Still talking on the price, Ope said: ‘While many may be skeptical about this new pricing, we have already been proved rights online where the albums are already being downloaded by fans all over the world at $12.99 on sites like reverbnation, iTunes, CDBaby and Tunecore. Also we have been encouraged to remain resolute in this new venture with our partnership with a Wisconsin U.S.A based distribution company, Black Treasure Entertainment, who has ordered 20,000 copies each of these albums at a bulk price of $9.99 (about N1,500) each for distribution in the U.S.A in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Texas, Minnesota and Oregon’ he said.
Trybson real names Dudukoko Prince sings a fusion of fuji and hip hop, his album title is Dudukoko while Baba Nee. self titled The King of Tradition blends tradition, chant in local language with banging beats from new kid on the block producer, Eddie Quest. His album title is Twice as 9ice, Natural’s strength is his vocal ability and good lyrics. Backed with experience garnered over the years of working with talking drummer, Ara and Gbedu master, Kola Ogunkoya, the black boy with white hair might just be the next big thing as his single Shakara which is also the title of his album is already enjoying heavy rotations of radio stations across the nation. Aydu Amah, needs little introduction. He caught our attention at the maiden edition of Big Brother Nigeria (2006) and he is set to consolidate on that with his new album, Iworiwo.
Meanwhile, the record label will unveil the grand plan to release Obesere’s double album, one of which is the highly anticipated hip hop debut from the fuji act through its publicist, Bigsam Media.