Pretty Okafor is the current President of Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN)
In this interview with Confirm News and FujiipopTV crew, he revealed lots of achievements the association has recorded along side artistes performances.
Excerpts:
You recently unveiled a project for PMAN and lots of stakeholders were very happy. Lots of people are saying this is the first time PMAN is coming up with genuine idea which will benefit,artistes, song writers, producers and even stakeholders at large . Can you tell us more about it?
Thank you for the question. We always want to do international things that will lure investors to Nigeria. I mean standard which is call International practices around the world for the music Industry . We have been able to create a data base for Nigerian musicians, Africa musicians and in all musicians of Africa descent. I worked with my able excos on this to make a system that an artiste can be capture globally on a data base and PMAN has world standard data base, Where biometric system and biometric data of all musicians and also including the metal data of all musicians. Not only that, the data base allows musicians to asses health care services, pension plan, life insurance policy. And help artistes to monitor and know about their royalties globally. Digital and mechanical royalties, performance royalties. The CMO haven’t been doing well because they only focus on collecting money. As a body, we can be able to collect performance royalties, digital royalties for musicians and this are royalties that will make artistes life better even when they are retired. This will make them billionaires. Once you are registered with PMAN biometric data, it gives you all the functions of being a musician. It can then help you monetize your work any where in the world.
During your days as a musician with JR of blessed memory, you never had this opportunity?
Yes, we never had this opportunity. But when I took the mandate of PMAN, I feel the best way for Nigerian musicians to recognize globally is this. Many work have been used without paying for it, so this system will allow you monitor and make money from it.
A lot of musicians didn’t not benefit from digital works. Even when the big label comes in and yet nothing happen and had to dump music and channel their money to another place to make money.
So now what is your advice on this digital exposure?
That era is actually called ‘analog’ era. The world had moved beyond that and everything is digitized even with our neighboring countries. The world had grown beyond analog. Right now we are interjecting with the global village and what allows that is the system of digitalisation of the eco system. So, this is part of the reasons we have to spend money to help artistes to be able to know about their works globally and it helps you as an artiste to be computer literates. This has also helped us to monitor and bring back revenues. Some we say they make lot of money from concert but concert is just a show of your talent. Digital performance and mechanical royalties you find out that musicians are making below what they should earn. On digital, you can sell more than putting up cds for sale. So soon as you make your money it goes to your account. I am in the middle of the old and new generation of musicians. The old we need to let them know this is the way right now not going to Alaba to make CDs. The older generation are finding it difficult to do business with the newer generation but they don’t have a choice than to learn.
Let talk about you, Mr Pretty. You are handsome and cool! Can you tell us more about your lifestyle?
Everyone knows I am a very lone ranger. I am a super star. We created Afro HipHop which transcended into Afro-Beat. We create this kind of music which everyone is using and actually feeding from currently. I always like creating and be at the back end. The only thing that got me out was this PMAN thing because we needed to work and lot of people couldn’t believe am this stubborn not to agree with the older ones to brainwashed the younger generation. I am still calm, cool headed, humble. I like keeping my space with my family. I don’t smoke. I never do it. Have only kept one woman thing. That is my life . Since I have been married nobody can say she has anything to do with pretty. So I always keep myself from things that can cause scandals. Me and Jr had the opportunity to be in limelight for a long time and we were able to manage it well.
What are you doing on your songs you produced with Junior those years, are you remixing them so that your fans in the diaspora can have access to it ?
I am working on something with Jr three kids. This is official . I have not reveal this to anyone. You guys are the first to hear the information. The monster hit then we are doing the remix and put more creativity in it with a new producer and a younger generation artistes. So the kids can be able to monitor it any where they are.
How do you intend to bring younger generation of musicians into PMAN?
We are working on ways to bring them in and make it work. If you a musician, and you have a concert to perform outside Nigeria, there is a requirement for you get a written letter from PMAN to ascertain who you are. Loads of emails, letters are sent to us to know about the musician. PMAN is a welfare organization.
We hold our meetings via zoom always. The digital base is there to register any where you are. Major thing is to give a cover for life. A health insurance, a policy to cover them for life most especially the pension, these are also part of our priorities Which our members have to collect for life.
How do you handle a case of musician who refuses to perform at a show he is paid for?
Most artistes didn’t know how to manage themselves well or people. Pretty and Jr managed our performances, images very well , that is why I am here today.
Most of the artistes that are reigning currently believed making little money give power above their promoters etc . That is arrogant.
During our time , we collect era N12.000 for a show. With our band on the bill, event organizers would say N12.000 for two of you and those people were huge money. But we have to show event oganisers reason we are collecting that huge money for hours on stage. These days musicians will only perform for thirty minutes and collect huge amounts. Some of them will still not hold a crowd. But we did it for hours during our days. We all know things change but we need to let them how things work for good. They need people who are sincere, educated, around them. During our era our manager can’t ask us to be at rehearsal at 4pm and we won’t be there. So these days , it is messengers lots of artistes have.
Most of them crash out because they put who doesn’t have the ideas of management behind them .
We are entering 2023 general election.What your take on it?
First, PMAN is not partisan organization. Am the president and I can’t tell you who to vote for. As a human , I believe you know what we have passed through from ages and as youth I think we can get it right this time.
-Tijani Adegbola, and Peter Iruobe
