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From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
Nigerian upcoming artist, Marcel Obute, who goes by the stage name D Masel- Blue Boy, has appealed to the Federal Government to pay more attention to the entertainment industry to boost the nation’s economy through tourism.
D Masel made the appeal yesterday in Nsukka during the official unveiling of the “Blue Boy” brand live concert at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
The UNN final-year student in the music department noted the potential of the entertainment industry in turning around Nigeria’s economy if given the government’s attention.
“The world of music as an entertainment industry is capable of generating more employment that even oil and gas cannot produce because of the waves music is creating in the world.
“Music is getting a world attraction, especially ‘Afrobeats’ by young Nigerian artists that are making the trends internationally,” he said.
He said that the major setback facing young artists without strong financial backing was funding and sponsorship to promote their music, appealing to the government at all levels to look into.
“Young artists face a lot of issues during the promotion of our music. I urge the government at all levels to implement policies that would make our jobs easier.
“Government should look into higher rates for streaming and YouTube views, creation of a passive-active network/association dedicated to promoting different genres of music and talents at large.
“Many of these platforms have built their business on using music as their main commodity. Yet, they don’t want to pay for the music that is the central product of their business model.
“If the government will invest more in music it would help to discover more talents, boost the nation’s economy, and also reduce youth unemployment,” he said.
The musical artiste noted that music had a powerful ability to evoke emotions and trigger unexpected feelings, change different people and reduce violence in society.
“Music can break down complex issues into things we can all relate to like love, friendship, fear, or loss. In this way, music expands our horizons and opens our minds to new ideas.
“As a student of music, I believe music can build a strong foundation of comprehension and problem-solving ability, add great value to individual development, and encourage learning about other cultures.
“Over the decades, music has consistently had a significant cultural and political impact on real-world events and provided power for positive change and unity at historic moments.
“Some of the issues that the industry needs to address include protecting the rights of artists and songwriters from unauthorized use or distribution of their music content.
“I also appeal to banks and other government agencies to provide accessible loan facilities with friendly interest rates for outstanding young artists to grow in the industry,” he added.
He, however, appealed to seasoned artists to give necessary counsel and guidance to these young talents to enhance their growth.
