Firstly, it gives me great sadness to have to write about my frustration at the media treatment at the just concluded inagural Afrobeats Festival featuring Wizkid, Iceprince and P-square. The event which was put together by Ropo (coko Bar) and Phoenix Media had gathered a lot of publicity through various media outlets ( print, online, airwaves ) which reached its pinnacle at the pre show press conference.
The day before the event, media organizations who had in the last few months helped in one way or another to promote the Afrobeat Festival had been granted access from far and wide to help push the project over the finish line. It was quite clear at the press conference that 60% of the so called media in attendance were nothing more than female friends and aquaintances of the event organizers and fans of the headliners . Phoenix media representatives asked the present press representatives to register for press tickets which will be picked up ( as they do ) at the box office on the event day.
BLOODBATH
On getting to the event which had obviously sold out due to a well run promotional campaign , the press line was full of some familiar faces whom had attended the press conference previously and loads of other v.i.p guest whom were meant to pick up their tickets. To my surprise, a huge chunk of the active press core at the conference the day before and those whom have promoted the Afrobeats festival for months were being told one after the other that their organization's names had been cut from complimetary tickets and press accrediation all together. It was nothing short of a media humiliation and complete press disregard.
Phoenix media and coko bar officials whom the day before could be seen hugging,kissing and thanking media outlets for their support and hard work were now ignoring and walking past the same people they had shown respect and gratitude to . For an up and coming online magazine like ourselves, it didnt hurt as much when we witnessed leading establishments such as Fab Afrique CEO and editor being told they couldnt go in and Factory78tv CEO being shouted at by a Phoenix media official who was later named as Abi.
Some of the media outlets which faced the Afrobeats festival bloodbath included organizations like Truespot Radio (USA), HipTV(Nigeria, Ayo Animashaun was seen sitting disgruntled on his equipments with staff members outside the venue too), Seyi klaxi,Gabz INC,Vibez,Factory78tv etc. These were some of the recognisable outlets and i am in no doubt loads more were shown the door too. I am sure some of these people and organizations might have finally got in after being made to beg several promoters and Phoenix media officers for access like fans or shall i say GROUPIES who couldnt think to leave with their pride intact.
To Ropo, Coko Bar Partners and Phoenix media, Afrobeats festival was a success because of the good music being produced by acts , Dj's who spin these records and last but not least THE MEDIA (print, online, airwaves) who promote the music and acts.Your continued monopoly of concerts and disrespect of media officials is mainly due to the stupidity and desperation for popularity of tv stations like HITV and sponsors like KATO Enterprises will COME to an end sooner rather than later and the earlier KATO enterprises and HITV realise how deep in the mud their names and images are, the better for their brands.
Speaking to shocked press officials outside the venue , it was discovered that this had been a regular occurence with Ropo,Cokobar and Phoenix media partners, asides from refusing to put UK based African acts on the bill (and when they do, they are either members of the JJC family or they are asked to perform for FREE) they continously use and abuse media representatives for their financial gains (sharp move ). But guess what people? "TIME IS ALMOST UP"
*A WORD TO MY PRESS COLLEAGUES, Support AfroBeat Music, Promote Afrobeat Acts, RESPECT YOUR PUBLICATIONS/OUTLETS AND SAY NO TO MONEY GRABBING,FAME HUNGRY,PRESS DISRESPECTING,OPPORTUNITY TAKING PROMOTERS LIKERopo,CokoBar and SHAM PR OUTLETS like Phoenix media.
As they say "Beat me once shame on you, beat me twice shame on me" a word is good for the wise SAY NO to these self centered frauds (aka arrogant 419ers).
On behalf of the UK media for the Afro-carrebian demographic .
Me
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