I am filled with gratitude for life, family, friends and the ability to do/and earn a living from what I am most passionate about, law.

May God bless your hustles. Have a great weekend. I’ll catch you all next week.

Cheers,
Uduak

[See post to listen to audio]

AML artists, events like these are great networking opportunities so be sure to get out there. Also, be sure to give your attention to filmmakers. They are one of your many sources of income. If you can sell (license) them your music for their films, you have the opportunity to make money AND create greater awareness for yourself as an artist. Needless to say, please do not go up to these people and start asking for things. Go up, introduce yourselves and then build the relationship. I believe I have talked about networking before. If not, expect a discussion on it soon. AML Executive Wale Ewedemi who I recently featured here is organizing the event.

Creative Enterprise Sessions 4.0

Wednesday, May 30, 2012 from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

May Creative Enterprise Sessions

You are cordially invited to the Creative Enterprise Sessions, our monthly interactive mentoring and networking meetup in Lagos.

It features over 500 entrepreneurs, and would be entrepreneurs in the creative industry and beyond

Venue: British Council Conference room, 20 Thompson Drive, Ikoyi.

Date: 30th May 2012 (last Wednesday of every month)

Time: 10am to 1pm

Speaker 1

Obi Asika, CEO Storm Records

Topic: Where is the money in Entertainment

Speaker 2

Kunle Afolayan, Multiple Award winning Film Producer

How to make Profitable movies: Case Study FIGURINE

Speaker 3

Emem Isong: undoubtedly one of the most respected producers and script writer in Nollywood

Topic: How to make Profitable Movies in Nigeria

Having said that, I am thrilled to introduce a young new rapper on the scene by the name of Coco Ice. She did a cover for Da Grin’s (RIP) ‘Pon pon pon’ and to me came strong. By the way, all the femcees I have heard on this beat just keep “murdering it.” Awesome! It is amazing to see Nigeria’s strong femcees standing up and demanding they tell their own stories and points of views. From Blaise to Eva, Tipsy and everyone in between I can only imagine what the future holds.

Keep it up ladies.

Ms. Coco Ice, a few things though:

1. I need you to think through your personal brand name and why you chose Coco Ice. Also, send the media a press release with the story behind your name, if you decide you will keep it.However, for future merchandising, endorsement deals and a name that would connect with an audience both locally and internationally as you grow in your career, I think you ought to rethink that name. In the US, there is a controversial personality named Coco. She is married to Ice-T the rap star. In other parts of the world, the name used together refers to cocktail businesses i.e. cocktails ordered at bars. Either way, work that out.

2. Your style necessarily has to be original. I look at you and another rapper comes to mind. She goes by the name Eva. I should look at you and YOU come to mind, not someone else. Your style, as it stands, whether you intend it or not, is an exact replica of the rapper Eva. I’mma need you to really fall back on that and find YOUR OWN unique voice and point on view in how you express yourself through your music.

3. Finally, as a lay person listening, the hook does not quite blend well with your rhymes. I know you are just starting, but the technicalities also matter. Get your music engineers/producers involved to really produce a final song that takes the texture of voice, the instrumentals et. al into account.

Solid start and I am excited for what lies ahead.

Folks listen to Coco Ice go in on the Da Grin’s ‘Pon pon pon.’

[See post to listen to audio]

Nevertheless, this “Celebrities Behaving Badly” entry is a toss up and I would like to hear what you all have to say on this.

QUESTION: Do you think there is a problem with artists kissing i.e. lip-locking with their fans?

Can it said that the artist is “rewarding” the fan for his/her loyalty?

We never know what drives people. Today, it could be arguably a “reward” or “cute.” Tomorrow, it could be sexual harassment. What say you? To kiss or not to kiss fans on stage?

Davido photo -Google
Eminem photo/WENN

Last week Friday, I told you all about Vodafone Ghana’s entrance into Africa’s music digital distribution space with its pending launch of its online retail store . The retail store has since been launched. On board to push the launch of the brand is Nigeria’s D’Banj and my absolute #1 favorite rapper out of Africa (that I have tired you all with my talks of him and his music) Sarkodie!

I am particularly pleased Vodafone Ghana joins the mix of emerging African focused music digital distributors. They “appear” to have a commitment to Ghanaian artists. Needless to say, such commitment has a direct relation to increasing their pocket change, to cut straight to the chase. It is a for-profit business you know and there is nothing wrong with that, so long as they do not screw artists and the industry over.

I do foresee murky legal issues if i’s and t’s are not crossed. For starter’s Vodafone Ghana and its affiliates will do well to avoid copyright infringement cases like that in the D-Black v. Vodafone Copyright Infringement claim last year.

Nevertheless, I like all that I am hearing!

SIDE NOTE : Wow! with D’Banj. I am pleased to see D’Banj finally heed my advice of drawing the distinction between D’Banj speaking to the press and D’Banj entertaining fans. He keeps getting better and I actually appreciate hearing him speak. You go D’Banj!

MUST WATCH VIDEO

Bloggers, you have no business watermarking a photographer’s image/images that does not belong to you. Doing so is stealing. The images are the COPY-RIGHT of the photographer. In simple English, you have not paid for the images, neither do you have the permission to say the photo belongs to you when it does not. I have heard many photographers complain about the watermarking of their images without permission.

Second, stealing written content is equally as bad. You should take an excerpt of the content you intend to use, quote it; and be sure to let your audience know where you got the excerpt from.

Cameroon blog NextDim has “had it up to here” with Nigerian and Ghanaian bloggers that steal their content and they have issued a warning. Read on. . .

“Nigerian and Ghanaian blogs have flagrantly infringed our intellectual property by stealing our content word for word without giving credits to Nexdim. In this light, the management of NexDim-Cameroon is sending a STRONG WARNING to all plagiarists to refrain from this malicious act else legal action shall be taken . . .”

NextDim has the full story.

QUESTION:

In 2007, when I conducted D’Banj’s first and exclusive interview in his first visit to the USA, I made it clear my position on that question. Below is an excerpt from that interview.

“America’s hip-hop and music mega-stars gathered this past weekend, in Nigeria, for the 2nd Annual ThisDay Music Festival. The event featured UB40, P.Diddy, Rihanna, Kelly Rowland, Ne-Yo, John Legend and more. The event also featured some of Nigeria’s “local” artists including TuFace, D’Banj, Sasha, Mode Nine, Asa and P-Square. Unfortunately, Ms. Kelly Rowland fainted during her performance from what her representatives attribute to dehydration and working on an empty stomach. Thankfully she is okay. Kelly’s fainting in Nigeria, however, made more headlines in American news than even the actual event. “Kelly Rowland Collapses on African Stage,” reported one major publication. I am irritated with the use of “African stage.” It’s one country not the entire continent! Plus, an “African stage” is NOT the cause of Kelly fainting! Whatever with that oshi [nonsense!].Moving on.

My excitement about American celebrities visiting Nigeria, or any other part of Africa for that matter, rubbed off after Jay-Z, Beyonce, Snoop and other American artists visited the country last year. My lack of enthusiasm is fueled by the fact that I fail to see why African mega-celebrities or so called “local” artists are given the back of the bus treatment when they perform on the same stage in their own country next to their American counterparts? I posed some of these questions in an interview with D’Banj, one of Nigeria/Africa’s highly sought celebrity. D’Banj performed last week in Dallas at the NRC Reunion event. It was his first time in the States. Read on. . .”

Fast-forward five years later since I conducted D’Banj’s first exclusive interview here in America and things have changed, significantly. Africa’s mega-celebrities are now able to command very competitive fees for live performances they perform,alongside their Western counterparts. These artists have been primarily Nigerian.

Nigeria is shaping up to be Africa’s #1 music market. The country’s stars command millions of their local monies wherever they perform on the continent. However, not all Africans are pleased about this fact, especially in Africa’s secondary music markets. One such secondary market is Cameroon. The artists and artist right organizations are fed up and intend to stage a protest against an MTN P-Square Scheduled event on May 18th, 2012. The same question I  posed to D’Banj five years ago is once more at issue, albeit this time it is an inter-continental issue.

An excerpt from Nexdim Empire:

“Cameroonian artists under the canopy of Syndicat Camerounais de musicien (SYCAMU) have aired out their grievances against the mobile network service provider MTN for paying huge amounts of money to foreign artists to perform meanwhile Cameroonian artists wallow in abject pernury, often humbled to receive meagre sums of money for concerts. They consider this a typical evidence of capital flight which contradicts the 8th May 2012 communique . SYCAMU president, Romeo Dika vented his dissatisfaction saying it is absolutely unfair for a mobile network company to pay 200 or 300 million CFA to foreign artists and can’t pay such sums to local artists. The union is therefore planning a public manisfestation against MTN on May 18th , the date scheduled for the P SQUARE concert. . . “ NEXTDIM has the full story.

AML LEGAL COMMENTARY

AML Industry, the ability to negotiate and negotiate on favorable terms for yourselves has to be one of the important factors that will lead to a successful music industry career. For that to happen, you MUST understand your value and build your brand equity so that you can be on equal footing at the bargaining table. It is just that simple. Nigerian artists were once in the exact same boat like Cameroon artists. Nigerian artists, however, called for a timeout and re-strategized. How? Well, it had nothing to do with them as much. But, they recognized the critical importance of an army of people, primarily the efforts of those offering ancillary services to the industry: media, bloggers, publicists, stylists, radio, television, social media influencers and of course fans and the African diaspora, at large, to get to where they are  today.

Accordingly, AML Cameroon artists reading this, I think it makes absolute sense that you insist that if foreigners will come to your land to perform, at a minimum, your local mega-celebrity artists should be respected and receive fees that are competitive. It is definitely worth fighting for.

However, you all should take a page from Nigeria’s music industry and tighten up on your branding, marketing and promotional efforts. You may make an amazing product but if no one is paying attention, then fussing about why nobody comes to buy your product is much ado about nothing. Get the branding/marketing/promotions tight!

Okay I am done.

Cheers,
Uduak

Congratulations to Wizzy/Wizkid, EME Records and Pepsi!

For the basic foundation of Brand Ambassador contracts, click my discussion on the signing of Stephanie Okereke as brand ambassador for Kanekalon.

Watch EME/Cokobar co-branded promotions of Wizkid, the brand, leading up to the UK tour and a couple of video clips below.

Photo: TCD Photography

Pakurumo (Within five months of video release has almost 1million views – good look)

Holla at Your Boy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lawyers Launch Fashion Law Firm Serving Fashion Industry

Bay Area, CA (May 16th, 2012)— Attorneys Uduak Oduok and Unwam Oduok announce, today, the launch of their new law firm, Ebitu Law Group, P.C. The Bay Area California headquartered law firm is one of the few firms in the USA offering Fashion Law services to the Fashion Industry.

“Many in the fashion industry have a need for lawyers with actual industry experience who understand the unique issues the industry faces,” said Attorney Uduak whose twenty years experience in the fashion industry encompasses modeling, media, publishing, fashion production, branding and public relations.

“Unfortunately and often, we hear these fashion professionals complain about how to find attorneys who “get” fashion; or worse, hiring attorneys who were clueless about the unique issues they faced as fashion professionals. We felt there was a market for a new type of law firm that gets the language of fashion.”

According to Oduok, Fashion Lawyers handle numerous matters in areas such as intellectual property, business law, licensing, contracts, textiles, merchandising and import/export. Fashion Lawyers also serve clients that range from retail stores, designers, manufacturers, modeling agencies, photographers, distributors, fashion editors, publishers, beauty companies to fashion houses.

The firm also offers legal services in other practice areas including Business Law (start-ups,  incorporation (LLCs, Partnerships, Corporation), contract negotiations, contract drafting of a wide variety of agreements, breach of contract disputes, business debt negotiations, fraud/misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty claims, business dissolution and partnership dissolution).

“They say there is “power in numbers,”” said Partner & Attorney Unwam Oduok. “Our goal is that together with our passions, experiences and intellectual abilities, we provide and continue to provide quality, compassionate and experienced legal representation to our clients.”

About Ebitu Law Group, P.C.

 Founded in 2012, Ebitu Law Group (ELG), a Professional Corporation, is an experienced firm committed to the pursuit of legal excellence and client service. The firm remains uncompromising in delivering quality, compassionate and affordable solutions to its clients’ legal problems, solutions that help its clients sleep well at night. The firm offers legal services in several practice areas including Fashion and Entertainment Law, Business Law & Litigation and Internet & Social Media Law.

For more information, visit www.ebitulawgrp.com.
Contact
Ebitu Law Group, P.C.
Uduak Oduok, Esq.  1-888-242-8446/916-361-6506
(uduak@ebitulawgrp.com)

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Side Note & Food for thought:  We have seen some immense trade flow and growth in key markets in Africa: Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Uganda etc. The transformation has been phenomenal. India, China, USA are among the countries with heavy investments in Africa across all sectors.  In fashion, we have seen many Western brands launching retail stores and beauty brands, among other products and services, in Africa. Just recently, I was contacted regarding Gucci Africa. Prior to that, I was also contacted about Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Nigeria. Walmart plans and prepares to execute two retail stores in Nigeria.  KFC,  Zara, Mango, BET, MTV Base, Trace TV, OK! Magazine  et. al are just sample Western brands in a country like Nigeria.

Given these aforementioned factors, what I think about, often, and certainly want to throw it out to you all, if you have not already pondered on it, is the following:

Specific to Nigeria and Ghana’s music industries,  what real inroads, beyond trying to get visibility in the West, are these industries making? Infrastructure, finance, music business training etc. What’s really good?

-Uduak