Award-winning singer, Timi Dakolo has criticized the idea of waiting for government to invest in the entertainment industry, saying that the industry doesn’t have a structure that can attract investors.
Speaking as one of the panelists who deliberated on ‘Economy of Talents: Using The Entertainment Industry To Rebuild Nigeria’ at the just concluded fourth Nigerian Entertainment Conference {NECLive4}, the ‘Great Nation’ singer said, ‘People are saying government should put money into this, put money into that, but we don’t have that structure. If am an investor, I can’t put my money into nothing and say it will yield money.’
Speaking further, he added, ‘So I will say that if you know that you are talented, get to know the business side of how to make money out of your talent. It’s not about singing and putting it on CDs. Know the nitty-gritty. Know what makes music music, what makes comedy comedy, what makes a punchline in comedy, then you can monetize it from there.
‘I don’t think talent hides that much. If you have it and you show it long enough, be consistent. Even in this industry, people have told me that Timi with this your ‘Oyinbo’ songs you are singing you are not going to do very well. I knew why I said I have to go to school for this thing, because the only thing I knew about music before now, was to go to choir practice on Wednesday and Sunday. Learn my tenor part, shout it on Sunday.
‘But when I wanted to take this thing seriously, I started to learn more about it. The knowledge you have about your talent cannot be taken away from you. So don’t let us sit down and be waiting for someone to give us money. Waiting for somebody to give us grant. Know you trade, know your talent. Don’t wait for someone to sign you. Enhance your talent up to the point that you can’t be ignored.’
This post first appeared on theNETng
