Hi, welcome to Sayakone.
"Naijapop" is a term often used to refer to popular music originating from Nigeria. The way has already been paved by the likes of Burna Boy, Tems, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, D’banj and many others.
But all of these artists are solo and so they have control over what they want to be doing, with the occasional input from their management companies.
If a Naijapop group were to really exist, I believe there will be several issues they would have to consider and overcome before they can even think of debuting. They will have to resolve the following first:
1. Creative Differences
2. Opportunities and Competition
3. Brand Name
4. Language and Lyrics
5. Financial Issues
6. Synergy and Personality Conflicts
7. Lack of Commitment (Members and their Roles)
8. Wardrobe, Equipment (or Technical) Issues
Creative Differences: In any musical group, creative differences can arise when members have different visions or ideas for the group's sound or direction. This can lead to conflicts and hinder the group's ability to produce new music.
First, the team members (and label, if they are signed to one) will have to agree on a creative direction they want to follow, this doesn’t mean that they must stick with this direction for their whole career. As they mature, they will eventually want to try new styles and experiment with other sounds.
The important thing is that they come together to discuss their musical desires and then reach an agreement; this first step is usually the reason why several groups disband.
With regular communication, the chances of conflict due to creative differences is reduced significantly.
Opportunities and Competition: Even the most talented groups may struggle to find opportunities to perform or get their music heard, especially if they are just starting out or do not have established connections within the industry.
Let’s not forget that the Nigerian music industry is highly competitive, and "Naijapop" is a popular genre with many talented musicians already in the space. The group may face competition from other bands or struggle to stand out in a crowded market.
Building a fan base is a very critical to a performers’ success, especially for independent groups who do not have the financial backing of a management agency; the fans can even act as promoters of the group though word-of-mouth advertising. They can be the ones to create opportunities for the performers and as such, should never be taken lightly.
Brand Name: A group is a brand and every brand needs a name. The name has to be one that is easy to remember and easy to search online. Considering that there are over 300 languages used in Nigeria alone, it might be an issue to select a name for the group. Should the name be Igbo, Yoruba or English? Or do they just make up something the way Rema and Oxlade did?
It also needs to be a name that anyone can pronounce easily, one with a good meaning that sells the group well. Eventually, they’ll also have to pick a name for their fandom.
Language and Lyrics: Another wahala might be, which language do they want to perform in? Or do they want to sing in multiple languages?
When attending interviews, which language do they use? Are they going for the monolingual approach or the multilingual approach?
It is beneficial to the group if the members speak diverse languages, that way they can connect with more fans and easily create connections both at home and abroad. Basic knowledge of popular foreign languages can prove to be advantageous to the team. This has to be decided from the beginning.
For the sake of promoting Nigeria, I suggest including popular Nigerian languages.
Financial Issues: Starting and maintaining a music group can be expensive, and financial issues can arise if the group does not have a solid plan for generating revenue or managing expenses. The members will need to take vocal classes, dance classes, public speaking classes and many others. Staff members will also need to be hired: trainers, makeup artists, costume designers, promoters, managers, etc.
Especially with independent groups, they might have to consider budgeting and having an accountant to keep track of their expenses. Each member should be given a portion of their earnings while the remaining profit should be directed back into the group.
Groups that are signed under a label, however, might not have to deal with the financial aspect of their careers directly. The company will have set up a team to handle that, but it is still important that each member is aware of how much their group is generating, the expenses they have to pay for, applicable taxes and statutory deductions, and finally, what eventually gets to them (net pay).
Synergy and Personality Conflicts: When working closely with others, personality conflicts can arise, leading to tension and even a breakdown in communication between group members.
Do the members of the intended group vibe? Are they within the same age group? Will they be able to develop a friendship bond? Do they all understand the path that they have chosen, and how to walk together on it?
If they do not understand all these from the beginning, before the project even starts, the group might fail simply because of internal conflict.
Lack of Commitment (Members and their Roles): If one or more members of the group are not fully committed to the project, they may not put in the necessary effort or time, which can lead to delays or even the breakup of the group.
Nigeria is not a mono-cultural country. Are all the members of this group going to be from one ethnic group or will they be selected just based on their talents?
How do you ensure that the members understand each other? If they are selected from different ethnic groups, will they be required to learn each others' languages and cultures?
If they have diverse religious backgrounds, how do you make them respect each other and not impose their beliefs on the others? Will there be a leader?
Who will be in charge of music production, writing lyrics, creating the choreography and developing the album concepts? Who do they go to when they need help: physical and mental?
Every group should first strive to answer all these questions.
Wardrobe, Equipment (or Technical) Issues: Technical issues with equipment or sound systems can be a major problem for a music group, as they can lead to poor sound quality or even cancelled performances.
Investing in top quality equipment can be very expensive but in the long run, it is a worthy investment. If a group is known for constantly having microphone issues or wardrobe malfunctions, it is the same as a ship sinking before it even gets to sail.
Surely there will be other minor issues to consider but I believe that the above are the most daunting to overcome.
Don't forget to vote wisely, let's make Nigeria great again! 🇳🇬