ENTERTAINMENT
Tony Okoroji, Laolu Akins, Orits Wiliki For Wale Olomu Memorial Awards
The organisers of the Wale Olomu Memorial Awards (WOMA) has unveiled the panellists to speak on the theme ‘Business of Music: Artistes Vs Label Relations, Accountable Royalties & Other Matters’.
They are Chief Tony Okoroji (veteran musician, music producer, former PMAN president, and current Chairman of the Collective Society of Nigeria, COSON); Orits Wiliki (veteran reggae artiste, music producer, and Chairman of Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria, MCSN);Â and Mr. Olaolu Akintobi (aka Laolu Akins – legendary musician, former Artiste & Repertoire controller and multiple award-winning music producer).
Others are Otunba Kenny ‘Keke’ Ogungbe (ace broadcaster, radio owner, music label mogul and promoter); and Mr. Obi Asika (convener of The Omniverse, music label owner, and co-founder of Social Media Week Lagos).
The awards’ Steering Committee equally named other discussants, like the multi-talented Afropop artiste, Paul ‘Play’ Dairo; velvety-voiced award-winning dancehall ace, Daddy Fresh; gospel music star and former music label executive, Kenny St Best (aka KSB); UK-based music promoter and producer, artiste manager, songwriter, and filmmaker, Kayode Samuel; and international toastmaster, former promotions manager at Premier Music, and artiste manager, Dayo Olomu (UK).
Tokunbo Ojekunle, ace broadcaster and chairman of the awards event, said that “the Roundtable panelists will feature on “The Vintage Talkshow”on Top Radio FM 90.9, which holds 7a.m. on Saturdays. Veteran journalist Femi Akintunde-Johnson (aka FAJ) anchors the radio show, he said.
He added, “The discussions, alongside the award presentations, will follow a dedicated schedule within the live two-hour radio programme between 9th and 23rd of December, 2023. The three-part Special Episode is designed as follows: 9th Dec.: Okoroji, Ogungbe & Dairo; 16th Dec.: Asika, Fresh, Samuel & KSB; 23rd Dec.: Akins, Wiliki & Olomu.
Ojekunle also said that some of the categories being considered for the Special Recognition Awards (SRA) are music producer, sound engineer, studio/artiste manager, music video editor, band manager, photographer, set designer, rhythm/bass guitarist, saxophonist, backup vocalist, percussionist, disc/video jockey, etc. This list is exclusive of the few distinguished veterans nominated for the lifetime achievement awards.
He stated that the award would hold inside a live radio studio and participation/attendance will be online (Google Meet, Zoom, Facebook and YouTube live feeds).
“Winners will be picked through a rigorous process to unearth and celebrate those who have contributed in discovering and nurturing Nigerian talents who would otherwise have been wasted; and such people have largely been unappreciated or unrecognised – a position the committee believes is in tune with late Wale Olomu’s reportorial philosophy,” he said.
