DJ Boombastic’s Media and Publicity Manager cum Personal Assistant, Quadri Rasheed Atanda popularly known as MC, leveraging on his more than 15 years’ experience across the travels, tourism and entertainment industry bares his mind on his music industry roles and how the journey has been rendering services to the accomplished disc jockey Oluwafemi Sodimu popularly known as DJ Boombastic and music youngster, Fatiah Kanyinsola Ojediran popularly known as Phatiah.
What inspired your interest in the music and entertainment industry?
Coming from a travels and tourism background where hospitality and entertainment are notable aspects of the industry, I developed interest in the music and entertainment industry based on my insight into the value adding nature of music and entertainment in the travels, tourism and hospitality industry.
Can you shed more light on that?
In 2012, Climax Travel and Tours was actively involved in the African Peace Festival in Accra, Ghana and subsequently in the 2013 and 2015 editions we partnered the organisers of the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation’s Adire Carnivals. As an active and significant member of Climax Travel and Tours, I was involved in playing roles relating to organisation, administrative and managerial activities in those programmes that included music and entertainment events, those opportunities gave me a glimpse into what it takes to work with media, music and entertainment personalities.
So, what concrete steps did you take thereafter?
Thereafter, Climax Entertainments and Events came into existence as an offshoot, or call it a sister company to Climax Travels and Tours, so the opportunity arose, and we had likes of DJ Boombastic, Zlatan Ibile, ID Cabasa, Skaliey Mental, Clever J, QDot, CDQ, DJ Kaywise and other celebrities too numerous to mention across the music, films and entertainment industry patronising both Climax Travel and Tours with Climax Entertainments and Events, that exposed me a lot to the music, films and entertainment industry.
How did that lead you into artist management related activities, of all the areas available in the music and entertainment industry?
Various music and entertainment industry acts that patronized our organizations observed my competencies and requested for various freelance services relating to artiste management from me, moreover Phatiah became a musician and the company engaged me as her Artist Manager, with DJ Boombastic requesting my services as his Media and Publicity Manager cum Personal Assistant. In addition, I mingled with and understudied the likes of artist manager Tumi Slizz of City Pluggers and music producer ID Cabasa of Coded Tunes, and others.
Are you saying your artist management contracts arose out of existing relationships with people and organisations?
Exactly, DJ Boombastic had been known to me before he eventually engaged me, just as Phatiah’s recording label and management company had existing business relationship with me before engaging me, it’s easier working with those you have existing cordial relationship with, it fosters mutual understanding with ease.
Is there any difference between playing artist management roles for DJ Boombastic and Phatiah?
There are definite differences. DJ Boombastic is an adult with more than 3 decades’ experience as a disc jockey, he worked at several radio stations, anchored various music programmes, organised music shows and initiated music events on behalf of other music and entertainment industry acts, therefore, he knows what he wants most times, as such, he sets the pace and makes me understand where I have to come in for actualising definite objectives.
What about Phatiah, where does the difference come in?
Phatiah is a teenager and a student, therefore she has other important activities on her mind aside her music career, as such, it requires tact to manage her so as not to needlessly distract her. One needs to help determine her direction for her, step by step towards the overriding, objective, though one has to be very careful to avoid micromanaging her so as not to stifle her creativity.
What are the ups and downs you have faced in the artist management career?
It has more to do with some artists not being thorough, they are just used to getting things done and less bothered about being distinct with high standard quality, and such does not augur well with me most times; but serving DJ Boombastic as media and publicity manager cum personal assistant has been interesting with all the exposure, media activities and on-air programmes.
Any specific interesting experience in playing your roles as artist media and publicity manager to DJ Boombastic?
Acting as a co-presenter to DJ Boombastic on, “smailzeveningdrive” on Smailz radio where I support his media appearance, publicity and image making efforts to further boost his career, promote and publicize artistes’ music, discuss developments in music and entertainment industry, and reviewing songs and albums has been an interesting experience so far.
What makes a good artiste manager?
A good artiste manager must be able to keep up with the trends in the music industry. He or she must also have the ability to network and build good relationship with people in the entertainment and media. And must have the will power to put artiste in check when going overboard because many artistes are eccentric in nature. Overall, managers must make sure they build good image for their acts.
Can you share with us your perception of the Nigerian music industry?
The Nigerian music industry has grown tremendously in the last ten years, and gaining more global acceptance and recognition. I will only implore today’s acts and these upcoming acts to infuse more substance and contents into their lyrics and songs and not just make dance or street music.
What do you envisage for yourself as an artist Manager in the next 5 to 10 years?
I am presently envisioning a more specialized approach to narrow down areas I will concentrate on in artiste management. I am evolving and that will become glaring with time, but for now, let us keep our fingers crossed.
