THE FULL BIOGRAPHY OF THE TOP SINGER DAVID ADELEKE A.K.A DAVIDO

THE FULL BIOGRAPHY OF THE TOP SINGER DAVID ADELEKE A.K.A DAVIDO

 David Adeleke (born November 21, 1992), better known by his stage name Davido, is a Nigerian American recording artist, performer, and record producer. In 2011, he co-produced and released “Dami Duro”, a song well-received throughout Nigeria. Along with his elder brother Adewale Adeleke, Davido is the co-owner of HKN Music, a record label home to Sina Rambo, B. Red and DeeKay. He has produced for numerous artists, including Naeto C, Skales, Tiwa Savage, and Sauce Kid. In April 2012, he signed an endorsement deal with MTN Nigeria. On October 23, 2013, Davido partnered with Guinness for the “Guinness World of More” concert, held at the Eko Convention Centre of the Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos on November 3, 2013. Davido has won a Kora Award, a Channel O Music Video Award, a Nigeria Music Video Award, three Headies awards, four Nigeria Entertainment Awards, and two Dynamix All Youth Awards, among others.

 Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Davido relocated to Lagos, Nigeria at a young age. He released his debut album Omo Baba Olowo in 2012, which contained the singles “Back When” featuring Naeto C, “Dami Duro”, “All of You”, “Overseas” featuring Sina Rambo, “Ekuro”, “Gbon Gbon”, and “Feel Alright” featuring Ice Prince. Davido has released “Gobe”, “One of a Kind”, “Skelewu”, and “Aye”, four singles off his upcoming album; the upcoming album, currently untitled, is slated to be release in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Life and music career

1992–2010: Early life

“I’ve been doing music for like 3 years but I took it seriously in March 2011. I was formerly in a group called KB international in America. It wasn’t working out so I thought I should just do this on my own that was when I moved back to Nigeria. When I came, the only people I knew in the music industry were Wande Coal and Don Jazzy, they are like family. I told them that this is what I wanted to do and they advised me. I was around people that were musically inclined. Wande Coal is like a big brother to me, I’ve known him for years, even before he dropped his first album. Shank is also like a brother to me, one of the first people that introduced me to the industry. I love music, and why not do something you love and are happy doing and making money at the same time.”

 Davido on his decision to venture into music  Davido was born on November 21, 1992 to Mr. and Mrs. Adeleke in Atlanta, Georgia. His father, Chief Deji Adeleke, is a Nigerian business magnate while his mother, the late Dr. Vero Adeleke, was a university lecturer. He attended The British International School in Lagos and travelled frequently between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria. Davido studied Business Administration at Oakwood University prior to relocating to Nigeria. He also studied Business Administration at Babcock University in Ogun State. Davido’s love for entertaining people was inspired by his late mother.

 2011-2012:Omo Baba Olowo Work on Davido’s debut studio album, Omo Baba Olowo (a Yoruba translation for “son of a rich man”), began in 2011. On May 7, 2011, Davido produced and released “Back When” featuring Naeto C, his first song ever recorded. The song served as the album’s lead single and received numerous airplay on radio and TV stations across Nigeria. The music video for the single, uploaded to YouTube on May 9, 2011, was shot and directed in Nigeria by Clarence Peters. During an interview with Adesope of Factory 78 TV, Davido said he recorded “Back When” in London. On October 30, 2011, Davido released “Dami Duro”, a song he co-produced with Shizzi. The music video for “Dami Duro” was released on January 8, 2012. It was shot and directed in Lagos by Clarence Peters and was released during the Occupy Nigeria protests. In an interview posted on Notjustok, Davido spoke on the release and composition of “Dami Duro”, saying, “I recorded Dami Duro in August. What happened was, I was in the studio, I had the beat so I freestyled on it and everyone was like “that shit hard”. I never touched the song for like 3 months and I sent it out to some friends. Before I knew it the songs leaked. So when it leaked I was like alright I gotta rush and turn this into a single.” On May 6, 2012, HKN Music released “Overseas”, a single off the album. The unfinished version of the song leaked prior to the official release. On September 28, 2012, HKN Music released the music video for “All of You”. The song was produced by Gospelondabeat. When the song was released, it was rumored to be a “beef track”. In another interview with Factory78Tv, Davido debunked the rumors and said he recorded the song with Gospel after meeting him at a mall. To Further promote the album, Davido released music videos for “Ekuro”, “Gbon Gbon”, and “Feel Alright”.

 2013-present:Upcoming album In early 2013, Davido began recording his second studio album. On February 25, 2013, he released the upcoming album’s lead single titled “Gobe”.The song was produced by Shizzi, HKN Music’s in-house producer. Charles Mgbolu of Vanguard Media Limited commented on the release of the single, saying, “It’s a beautiful song with a tremendous video running along. In Gobe, Davido is beaten up by thugs after winning the girl. It’s a song that exudes fun from start to finish.” The music video for the single was shot in South Africa by Godfather Productions. The song was ranked second on Premium Times list of the Top 10 songs of 2013. On May 13, 2013, Davido announced via Twitter that the second single, “One of a Kind”, from the upcoming album would be released. The song was also produced by the aforementioned in-house producer. The music video for “One of a Kind” was shot and directed in South Africa by Tebza of Godfather Productions. It visualizes a united Africa rich in culture and music. On August 13, 2013, “Skelewu”, the third single, was released. It was ranked 5th on the aforementioned list of the top 10 songs of 2013. The song peaked at number one on Afribiz’s Top 100 chart. A dance competition with a cash prize of $3000 (N480,000) was announced days after the release of the song. Davido uploaded an instructional dance video onto YouTube and asked fans to upload videos of themselves dancing to “Skelewu”. On October 10, 2013, Davido declared Bello Moshood Abiola the winner of the competition, tweeting: “Congrats my lil bro kiddy!! Won the 3k dollars skelewu competition .. I’m gonna change this kids life!! More things to come kiddy!!”  A week after announcing the winner of the Skelewu dance competition, a Sesan directed music video was released to the public. Shortly after the release of the video, Davido took to twitter to debunk the video, claiming that someone betrayed him by releasing it. He also said that he’ll re-shoot the video with Moe Musa, a UK based music video director. He tweeted: “Pls disregard the leak that is not the official video… The official video is being redone. Thx ..”.

 Sesan released a statement saying: “My attention is drawn toward the chaos surrounding the release of the Skelewu video. Myself and my team shot the video for Davido in Nigeria and to the best of my knowledge my client and his team were very happy with the result, when they watched/ and approved the video. If he has since had a change of heart, that is ok. I am not in any way responsible for the release of the video. I believe Davido and myself did a very good job regarding the video production and as a professional of over 10 years. I find it very irresponsible and immature if my client and his management publicly put out false statements/comments, in an attempt to tarnish my name, credibility and reputation. I remain dedicated, humble, focused and as hard working as ever. Thank you to all my fans and industry professionals.” On October 21, 2013, the official music video for the single, shot and directed in London by Moe Musa, was uploaded onto YouTube at a total length of 3 minutes and 56 seconds. On February 2, 2014, Davido released “Aye”, the fourth single from his upcoming album. The song was produced by T Spice. The music video for “Aye” was released on February 7, 2014; it was directed by Clarence Peters. According to the music video’s synopsis, “Davido plays a poor farmer who falls in love with the prince’s love interest.”

 Endorsements On April 6, 2012, Nigerian Entertainment Today reported that MTN Nigeria signed Davido to a N30 million deal, unveiling him as the face of MTN Pulse, a marketing campaign for Nigerian youths. On October 24, 2013, Pulse Nigeria reported that Guinness Nigeria signed Davido to an endorsement deal. As part of the deal, Davido performed at the Guinness World of More Concert alongside P-Square, D’banj, Wizkid, Ice Prince, Burna Boy, Olamide, Phyno, Chidinma, Waje, and Tiwa Savage, among others.

Controversial incidents

Nightclub brawl

 After the conclusion of the Guinness Colorful World of More Concert on November 3, 2013, Davido and his entourage went to the Nu Grotto night club in Victoria Island for a night of fun. While at the club, the alleged confrontation between Davido’s bodyguard, Tijani Olamilekan Ogbeide (Teejay), and DJ Jaydee, a “known” DJ, led to an escalation of violence at the club. The incident that transpired on the night of November 3 left several people injured, including Davido’s bodyguard who was treated for neck wounds. Several hours after the incident, there were numerous accounts and interpretations of the incident. Davido’s management gave their account of the incident and debunked all other accounts. According to their account, Jaydee allegedly confronted Teejay with Davido’s missing ATM card and asked for permission to speak to Davido personally. After being refused access to Davido, Jaydee allegedly dropped the card on the floor in anger and attacked Teejay while he was picking up the card from the floor. Jaydee allegedly struck Teejay repeatedly and ran off into the club.

 Assault case On August 12, 2012, Crime Digest reported that Davido allegedly assaulted Femi Ajibola, a taxi driver. Ajibola said the incident started when he got a call from a young woman who requested a taxi ride from her house to a hotel in the Lekki Phase 1 area. Ajibola said that the girl and her friend asked him to wait for them. He said that moments later, one of the girls approached the taxi cab screaming and pleading to enter the car. He claim he saw Davido slap the girl while she entered the car. He also claim Davido knocked his face against the cab’s steering wheel while accusing him of being the girl’s boyfriend. Moreover, Ajibola said that four of Davido’s entourage beat him up severely and took the keys to his taxi cab. Ajibola said that he went to report the case to the nearest police station and was told to do so the next day. Ajibola told Crime Digest that he had a total of N100,000 in the car and had plans of using the money to payoff the dealer for the balance he owed on the car. He said he didn’t see the money in the car upon returning to the car the next day. He said he managed to get hold of Davido’s “number” and contacted him; he said someone from Davido’s camp called him back and promised to pass the message to him. After reporting the incident to the police station, Ajibola said he and police officers went to the girl’s house. 

 Ajibola said the girl told police officers that  Davido and his entourage didn’t assault her. Ajibola said he learnt that Davido was dating one of the girls he picked up and that the fight between them started after she caught Davido in bed with another girl who she was friends with. Ajibola told Crime Digest that the DPO at the police station assured him that they will investigate the case and find out the truth. Ajibola said that after Sharon Adeleke dropped off the taxi cab’s key, he pleaded with her and the DPO to compensate him for “the incident”. Davido’s publicist, Valerie Obaze, denied his involvement in the incident saying, “Davido has no knowledge of any incident involving the assault of a taxi driver or the illegal seizure of his car. He does not condone violence of any sort and will not be commenting on this untrue allegation.” Davido has since denied the incident and referred to it as a case of blackmail. He specifically said: “I want to assure all my beloved fans and friends that I am not wanted by the police and no officer in the Nigerian police gave an order for my arrest. I did not beat up any taxi driver and the lady that hired the taxi driver and all those that are involved in this matter have made statements to the police and none of them mentioned my name except the taxi driver who claims that a large sum of money was missing in his taxi, in fact the lady in question stated that she was not beaten by anyone and that nobody assaulted the taxi driver. This is a case of blackmail, and I have resolved not to succumb to any blackmail for money. And to all those that are involved in this conspiracy to bring me down, I want to remind you that God Almighty himself got me to where I am today in my music career and you will not succeed in your devilish efforts to bring me down.”

Discography

Studio album

Omo Baba Olowo (2012)

Singles

YEAR	TITLE	ALBUM
2011	“Back When” (featuring Naeto C)	Omo Baba Olowo
	“Dami Duro”
2012	“Ekuro”
	“Overseas” (featuring Sina Rambo)
	“Gbon Gbon”
	“All of You”
	“Feel Alright” (featuring Ice Prince)
2013	“Gobe”	TBA
	“One of a Kind”
	“Skelewu”
2014	“Aye”

Awards and nominations

Davido awards and nominations

Awards and nominations
Totals
Awards won	12
Nominations	16

Kora Awards

Year	Recipient	Award	Result
2012	Himself	Best Newcomer Award	Won

Dynamix All Youth Awards

Year	Recipient	Award	Result
2011	Himself	Promising Youth Artiste	Won
	“Back When”	Song of the Year	Won

Channel O Music Video Awards

Year	Recipient	Award	Result
2013	“Gobe”	Most Gifted Afro Pop Video	Nominated
2012	“Dami Duro”	Most Gifted Dance Video of the Year	Nominated
		Most Gifted Newcomer Video of the Year	Won

Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA)

Year	Recipient	Award	Result
2013	“All of You”	Best Dance Hall/Reggae Video	Nominated
	“Gobe”	Best Pop Extra Video	Nominated
2012	“Dami Duro”	Best Video By A New Artiste (Live Beats Choice)	Won

4Syte TV Music Video Awards

Year	Recipient	Award	Result	Ref
2013	“Gobe”	Best African Act Video	Nominated
2012	“Dami Duro”		Nominated

Ghana Music Awards

Year	Recipient	Award	Result
2014	Himself	African Artiste Of The Year	Pending
2013			Nominated

Nigeria Entertainment Awards

Year	Recipient	Award	Result	Ref
2013	O.B.O (Omo Baba Olowo)	Best Album of the Year	Nominated
	Himself	Best Pop/R&B Artiste of the Year	Won
2012	“Dami Duro”	Hottest Single of the Year	Won
	Himself	Best New Act of the Year	Won
	“Carolina” (Sauce Kid featuring Davido)	Best Collabo of the Year	Won

City People Entertainment Award

Year	Recipient	Award	Result	Ref
2013	Himself	Musician of the Year (Male)	Nominated
		Best Hip-Hop Artiste of the Year	Nominated
	“Gobe”	Most Popular Song of the Year	Nominated

The Headies

Year	Recipient	Award	Result
2013	Davido	Artiste of the Year	Nominated
		Hip Hop World Revelation	Won
	Omo Baba Olowo	Best R&B/Pop Album	Won
		Album of the Year	Nominated
	“Gobe”	Best Pop Single	Nominated
2012	Himself	Next Rated	Won
	“Dami Duro”	Best Pop Single	Nominated
	“Carolina” (Sauce Kid featuring Davido)	Best Collabo	Nominated

World Music Awards

Year	Recipient	Award	Result
2014	Himself	World’s Best Male Artist	Pending
		World’s Best Live Act	Pending
		World’s Best Entertainer Of The Year

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Biography Of Davido

              BIOGRAPHY OF DAVIDO

 Davido (born David Adeleke) is a performing and recording artiste and also a music producer. Davido was born in Atlanta GA, USA on November 21st to Mr. And Mrs. Adeleke and attended The British International School, Lagos. Travelling between the USA, the UK and Nigeria, Davido has experienced different cultures but still stays true to his roots and this is evident in his music and the people he considers his biggest influences musically, which include Don Jazzy, 2 Face idibia, Sound Sultan and Wande Coal. Though Davido started music professionally a year ago, he has been performing and making music since the age of 11. Now 18, he has set up a record label called HKN Music, jointly owned by Davido and Ade, his older brother.

  The saying “If you want something done, do it yourself” is what led the brothers start the label as Davido believes that as a producer and recording artiste, he would be in the best position to create music that suits his style. When asked to choose an ideal producer to work with, he responded “...myself, because I know what I want exactly!” He is however quick to mention that he would definitely be excited to work with Sarz, Jaysleek and/or Don Jazzy. In a short space of time, Davido has developed a huge fan base (14 to 28 year olds) in Nigeria, the US and the UK and the young fresh talent’s first single “Back When” featuring Naeto C, is enjoying massive media attention and airplay online, on radio and TV. In his own words, his greatest reward so far is “having my family and friends support my dream.

  I can’t ask God for more”. Within no time Davido took us by storm when he released Dami Duro, which has been said to be one of Nigerians top hits ever made. Without a doubt, dami duro has become a leading club song as well as one of radios most played. Without wasting much time, Davido and his management team, in collaboration with Clarence Peters, put together a first-class, never seen before type video, to back up the banger, Dami Duro. Not only did this video create major buzz around websites, TV stations and you tube, but was also said to be one of the best videos out of Nigeria. Without saying much, it is evident that Davido is one to watch out for in 2012! He is evidently here to stay, and deliver. Davido had a very eventful Christmas (2011) season performing all over Nigeria. He had amazing performances at shows like the Koko concert, Rhythm Unplugged, Echo 2011, Access Bank End of year Party and the Sahara End of year concert. 

 The Artiste Davido admits that his love for entertaining people comes from his late mother who passed away in 2003. Losing his mother has been the most traumatic experience Davido has had to suffer but it has also been his inspiration as he states “...she’s the reason I do what I do.... she loved to entertain and I plan on carrying that legacy...” With collaborations with artistes like Naeto C, Shank, Lynxxx and popular UK artiste, Dotstar, Davido is set to prove to the music industry that he has what it takes to succeed. He has also shared stages with people like T-Pain, Fabulous, Keith Sweat, Cabo Snoop, D'Banj, Naeto C and more. The Producer As a versatile artiste, Davido is able to adapt to any beat produced by other producers. However, this is a craft he has succeeded in mastering and with help from his brother Ade, HKN Studios would be a force to reckon with the in the Nigerian Music scene. Often asked where his inspiration as a producer comes from, David explains “... I like it when people are happy and when they can dance to my music! My mom liked to dance to music and I am inspired when I think of the kind of beats that would make her dance.” His debut single “Back When” featuring Naeto C is a testament to Davido’s ability and skill as a producer. He has also produced music for ... Naeto C, Skales, Tiwa Savage and Sauce Kid. So, the next time you are dancing to a well made beat, pay attention because you might just hear “on the beat its Davido”... A signature that will be heard on chart topping songs for a very long time! The Student Often considered playful and fun loving, Davido has shown that he is a focused individual and not allowing his music career get in the way of his education. 

 Davido is currently studying Business Administrations in Babcock University and he is applying things he learns in school into running the business of his music career. Ensuring that a proper system and business tools are in place for his music career, Davido has not only built a recording studio for the HKN Records, he has also assembled a management and PR team to help him run his affairs while he focuses on his education. Music doesn’t take a back seat though... Davido runs on a very tight schedule to ensure that neither his music nor education suffers! The Brand Good talent is hard to go unnoticed. However, more profitable than good talent is a good brand. The Davido brand is increasing growing and commanding attention. The good quality of the debut single “Back When” featuring Naeto C, produced by Davido, is complimented by the quality of the video shot by Award Winning Video Director, Clarence Peters. The “Back When” video has over 100,000 views on youtube and has had massive airplay on MTV, SoundCity, 1 Music Channel and all Terrestrial TV stations. 

 Davido is probably one of the busiest of the new artistes in Nigeria as he has performed in some of the biggest shows this year. These shows include: With offers already coming his way for more appearances and performances, Davido’s fan base is set to go “off the roof”. Without a doubt, Davido will be vital to selling a few brands in the country. As an artiste and a producer, Davido is focused on ensuring consistency in the quality of music he gives his fans that are increasing by the minute. Davido’s brand management team is looking forward to developing concepts and working with brands to establish mutually beneficial relationships. Davido is managed by 21 year old Asa Asika, who has worked with artistes such as Sasha, Naeto C, YQ, GT The Guitarman, Ikechukwu, Pype and many more. What’s Next? Davido has been recording with artistes like Dotstar, Lynxxx, Sauce Kid, DJ Skales, Tiwa Savage, Mo’Cheddah, DJ Neptune, Wizkid, Shank, and many more in preparation for his debut album, which is currently untitled. With the debut single entering countdown charts across the country, Davido is almost set to release a follow up single to ensure that his fans always have something new to enjoy. A date has not been set for the release of his debut album, however, the targeted period is some time next year. Davido’s management will communicated a date once confirmed. In the mean time, Davido will continue to make great music and performing on the biggest stages across the country. 

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TOP 20 MOST RICHEST NIGERIAN MUSICIANS OF ALL TIME

TOP 20 MOST RICHEST NIGERIAN MUSICIANS OF ALL TIME

20. Kiss Daniel [$1.0 million]

 This guy is making name for himself in the music and entertainment industry in Nigeria. It is not surprising that he made the top 20 richest musicians in Nigeria, despite that it has not been long he break into the limelight.

His hit song (Woju) remix featuring Tiwa Savage and Davido has grossed over 16 million views on YouTube as at the time of the last update. Kiss Daniel net worth is estimated to be $1.0 million

19. Chidinma Ekile [$1.3 million]

 Chidinma has one thing going for her – she is extremely likeable. That alone has skyrocketed her take home performance fees and worth to an enviable position. From a mere contestant in the MTN Project Fame to a household name in Nigeria, Chidinma has created wealth that her peers can only dream about. She has amassed enough wealth to earn her a place on this list of richest musicians in Nigeria.

Her biggest video to date is “Kedike” with 1.2 million YouTube hit, followed by “Oh Baby” featuring Flavour which currently has 600,000 views. And collective views of about 5 million for her songs, Chidinma’s net worth is put at – $1.3 million

18. Duncan Mighty [$1.5 million]

 Duncan Mighty has refused to step an inch away from the Niger Delta oil. With unique beats, superior voice quality, and dance step to match, he is considered one of the most successful artistes ever come out of the Niger Delta region.

His most popular song on YouTube.com is “Obianuju” and “Port Harcourt Boy” which has collective views of 2.8 million. With strong affiliation to the Niger Delta politicians, Duncan mighty is estimated to worth – $1.5 million

 17. Phyno [$1.6 million]

The only hardcore rapper I’ve ever seen in Africa. He does it like no other, providing new dimension to rap music in Nigeria and Africa in general. Phyno is to the Igbos what Olamide is for Yorubas but he does it in a completely different fashion. So good that ‘Rap haters’ like me are being forced to like the music.

Phyno is a genius. Everyone wants to collaborate with him for good reasons. He is hot in the market. Phyno’s net worth is put at – $1.6 million

16. Tekno [$1.7 million]

 He broke into the limelight with Duro which currently has 26 million views on YouTube. Tekno is one of the finest Afro-Hiphop artists in Nigeria. He and Kiss Daniel are the newest entrants into this tops 20 richest musicians in Nigeria, overthrowing Ice Prince and Patoranking.

His biggest song till date is Pana which is currently having over 36 million views on YouTube and countless of downloads on iTune! Tekno net worth is $1.7 million

15. KCee [$2.0 million]

 Currently making serious wave in the Nigerian music scene, KCee, formerly a member of the KCPresh is one of the most fortunate guy in the industry. He picked the right beat at the right time, and the rest has become history.

His hit songs “Limpopo” and “Pull Over” are currently on 14.5 million views collectively on YouTube. KCee net worth is $2.0 million.

14. Tiwa Savage [$3 million]

Welcome the queen of music in Nigeria. The sexy mama and the first lady of Mavins Record! Tiwa Savage is among the very few Nigerian artistes whose average video is grossing over 1 million on YouTube. She currently has about five videos with more than a million views each. Eminado is currently doing 7+ million.

Her net worth is $3 million and may soon crossover to ten in this rating within the next couple of months.

13. Iyanya [$3.5 million]

 From a hungry project fame ex-winner to international famous superstar within the space of three years. Iyanya has shown that if you want to be successful in Nigeria, give them what they want and you will be blessed with wealth.

Iyanya’s hit song (“Kukere” complete with its unique dance step) currently has more than 15 million views on YouTube. His net worth is $3.5 million

12. M.I [$3.9 million]

 Regarded as one of the most successful rap artiste ever in Africa, M.I has built a reputation that will be too difficult for anyone to surmount. He is among the major stakeholders in Chocolate City Records and is credited with the rise to fame of Ice Prince Zamani.

For the sake of the record label and the stars that came through it, we are placing MI at number 12 on this list. His current net worth is $3.9 million

11. Yemi Alade [$4 million]

 How she made it, I don’t know, but she is currently the biggest female musician in Nigeria. The first day I heard “Jonny” played over my car radio by one of the Nigerian F.M Station, I knew something serious was about to hit us.

Yemi currently has the most successful and most popular music video by any African female artiste (dead or alive) on YouTube. The total views for “JONNY” as at this time is 69,800,171. Yemi Alade’s current net worth is $4 million.

List Of Top 10 Richest Musicians In Nigeria

 10. Timaya [$5.5 million]

Timaya’s vocal power is unmatched in the industry. He is one one the best and probably the most successful music star ever come out of the Niger Delta area, far more successful than Daniel Wilson and others. He is truly the “Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa”.

One of his hit track “Sanko” has surpassed 5million views. While his biggest hit “Bum Bum” featuring Sean Paul has already grossed over 16 million on YouTube. Timaya net worth is $5.5 million

9. Tu Face [$5.7 million]

 The musician everyone respects in the industry, Tu Face has become the present day legend in African pop culture. By the time he hangs his trumpet, he will be studied in universities across Africa. African Queen remained his biggest hit ever, meaning that this legend lives largely in the past glory.

He has not been able to do another song more popular than the famous African Queen or even close to its popularity. But what he lack in hit songs, he made up in reproduction, building future generation of Idibias. Tu Face net worth is $5 million.

8. D’Banj [$6 million]

 From life in the streets of The United Kingdom to MoHit and, becoming one of the biggest superstar Nigeria has ever seen, D’Banj has proved that what you need to become successful is in you. You don’t need to look for it elsewhere, it is within you.

Noteworthy, his biggest song ever is (Oliver Twist) the last song produced by Don Jazzy. It dethroned P-Square’s song (Chop my Money) temporally in 2013 as the highest viewed Nigerian song on YouTube before another song from P-Square (Personally) reclaimed the number one spot. D’Banj net worth is $6 million..

7. Banky W [$9.0 million]

 Two of the best music videos ever done in Nigeria (Lagos Party and Wizkid’s Holla at ur Boy) to his credit and a serious record label of his own, Banky W is surely a force to reckon with in the Music business in Nigeria.

From Etisalat to Samsung, he has the knack to land juicy endorsement deals anytime. Started with a copycat of Rihanna’s song, he graduated to international superstar, doing original songs and winning awards. Banky W net worth is $9.0 million.

6. Wizkid [$11.5 million]

 From a backup artiste to Banky W to becoming a superstar, Wizkid has been transformed into international star by just one music video – Holla at ur Boi! That video created the defining moment in his career and today, he is the Wizkid you and I know.

Widely regarded as the Justine Bieber of Nigeria, Wizkid is one of the stars in the industry that many upcoming artistes look up to. What he lack in vocal talent, he complement in personality appeal. Wizkid net worth is $11.5 million.

5. Olamide [$12 million]

 He is probably the craziest rapper in Nigeria and Africa. So crazy he called himself Badoo. Olamide has built name and fortune for himself in the music industry in Nigeria. Right from the day I heard his first song, I knew he was going to be big.

His song with the highest YouTube view is “Shakiti Bobo” with  over 17 million views. Consequently, he was able to overtake Wizkid due to the fact he has multiple singles with over 50million collective views. He is the mastermind behind the rise of Shoki dance style and Lil Kesh. Olamide’s current net worth is put at $12.5 million.

4. Davido [$20 million]

 What he lack in physical appeal, he complement with great vocal ability – the twisted version of Wizkid. Davido is one musician in Nigeria that I so much like his vocal talent. He is a singer and song maker extraordinaire and as a result, has become one of the richest musicians in Nigeria.

His two songs “Aye” and “Gobe” are currently having 15 million and 11 million respectively on YouTube. Son of a politician and businessman, Davido’ net worth is $20 million.

3. Flavour [$28 million]

 Almost every artiste in the industry has featured Flavour in their songs. His vocal ability is unrivaled. One of the very best the industry has ever seen. Flavour Nabalia is one like no other and no one can mimic him successfully, no matter how hard they try. He is the only Flavour, after him there may be no other Flavour.

This Afro High-life Star has everything going for him. Physical appearance, pure vocal talent, and mastery of the music instruments. Flavour is everything other musicians desires to be. His current net worth is $28 million.

2. Don Jazzy [$100 million]

The only musician in this list with no song to call his own. Yet, he command so much respect and money than most of the bests in the industry. Don Jazzy is a builder, a producer and industry pacesetter. Whatever he lays his hands on becomes gold. He produced D’Banj to international superstar and, when D’Banj left, he produced other superstars.

Dorobucci, Adaobi, Eminado, Sulurere, Banana – these are some of the major hits he produced after the MoHit saga. Certainly one of the richest musicians in Nigeria, Don Jazzy net worth is $100 million.

1. P-Square [$150million]

No one does it like P-Square in the music industry in Nigeria and Africa! When you think they’ve done their best, they come up with something completely different. The only competition they have is with themselves. Outside Akon, P-Square is the biggest music stars ever come out of Africa – dead or alive!

How about great African musicians like Fela, Ndiaye, Lucky Dube, Blenda Fassie, Angelique (the double Grammy awards winner), and Awilo Logomba? Well, they are all legends of music in Africa but when it comes to earning and popularity, these legends are no match to P-Square, with all due respect. This is based on facts and figures. Pick up the all times African top 10 music video on YouTube, P-Square alone has 5, leaving the other 5 for the entire artistes in Africa to share. 

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Top 20 Richest Musicians In The World

Top 20 Richest Musicians In The World


20. Muse:  The last 20th place was taken by the British rock band Muse (49 million dollars). Muse is a British rock band formed in 1994. In total, Muse released seven studio albums and four live albums. Their sales exceeded 15 million. Muse also received a lot of awards mostly for live performances.

 19. Luke Brian:  The 19th line is occupied by the American country singer Luke Brian (53 million dollars). At first, he worked as a songwriter. His debut single "All My Friends Say" achieved the fifth line in the Billboard country chart. Some of his singles received gold and platinum certification from the American Association of Record Companies. His third album Tailgates & Tanlines, released in 2011, was certified platinum.

18. Jay Z:  The 18th place was taken Jay Z, the singer from the US (53.5 million dollars). Shawn Corey Carter is a rapper and producer. Jay Z is one of the best-selling musicians of all time. He sold more than 100 million records and received 21 Grammy Awards for his music. 

17. Beyoncé:  The 17th position was taken by Beyoncé (54 million dollars). Giselle Knowles-Carter is an American R&B singer, an actress, a dancer, and a music producer. She released six albums and has won 20 Grammy awards in her entire music career.

16 - 15. The Weeknd and rock band U2:  The 16th and 15th places are occupied by the Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer of Ethiopian origin The Weeknd and the Irish rock band U2 (55 million dollars each). U2 was formed in 1976. They are one of the most popular, successful and influential groups in the music history. More than 180 million copies of the group’s albums have been sold.

14-13. Justin Bieber and Kenny Chesney: The 14th and 13th spot goes to Canadian Pop and R&B singer, songwriter, musician, and actor Justin Bieber and the American country singer Kenny Chesney, one of the most popular in his genre (56 million dollars each). 

12. Paul McCartney:  Sir James Paul McCartney takes the 12th place. He is a British musician, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. One of the Beatles’ founders, a 16-time Grammy Award winner, a Bachelor of Arts and Chevalier of the British Empire Order. (56.5 million dollars). 

11. Bruce Springsteen:  The 11th position is occupied by Bruce Springsteen (60.5 million dollars). Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen is an American rock and folk musician and songwriter. He became famous due to his rock songs with poetic texts. The central theme of the latter is his homeland, New Jersey.

10. Puff Daddy:  The 10th place is taken by American rapper Sean Diddy Combs, better known as “Puff Daddy” (62 million dollars). The main portion of this year income was brought to Puff by the lucrative deal with Diageo's Ciroc. His other investments are quite lucrative too. The musician is listed in Forbes every year, steadily occupying the tenth line among the richest musicians of the planet. 

9. DJ Kelvin Harris:  The 9th line was taken by the Scottish DJ Adam Richard Viles, known under the pseudonym Kelvin Harris (63 million dollars). Who said that a DJ cannot earn real money? Calvin Harris spent most of the year wandering around the elite clubs and casinos in Las Vegas, becoming the richest electronics musician of the year. Also, the guy releases hit collaborations with major stars - the last song This Is What You Came For, made with Rihanna, was accepted by critics very favorably. 8. The British Rolling Stones The 8th place is occupied by the British Rolling Stones (66.5 million dollars). It’s a rock group with a huge fan base. The sale of CDs and live performances of Rolling Stones provide team members with a good annual income.

7. AC / DC: The 7th spot is taken by another rock legend, Australian band AC / DC (67.5 million dollars). No front man? No problem, they have found a new one. The guys from the cult team AC / DC regretfully retired their solo Brian Johnson, and on the same day, they lured the front man of the legendary Guns N 'Roses. Axl Rose will take part in the last ten concerts of the US tour. It will undoubtedly make AC / DC almost the richest rockers in the world. 6. Garth Brooks The 6th place is taken by the country star Garth Brooks (70 million dollars). The Comeback Tour started in 2014 and continued till the beginning of 2017. Garth Brooks is not very popular in other countries but highly appreciated at home. He belongs to the richest musicians in the world. 

5. Rihanna:  The 5th line is occupied by Rihanna (75 million dollars). Rihanna has created for herself an image self-willed girl who prefers to follow her heart and not pay attention to public opinion. Her impressive talent gives Rihanna the right to an original vital position, and the innate business skills that allows her easily to be on the Forbes list. 

4. Madonna: The 4th place is for Madonna. The top twenty most highly paid musicians also include American singer Madonna (annual income - 76.5 million dollars). Only the Gross from the Rebel Heart brought Madonna $170 million. After that, the Forbes’ financiers estimated the total net worth of the pop diva in one and a half billion dollars. Also, the legendary singer has additional sources of income, from the perfume line to her brand clothing.

3. Adele: The 3rd spot belongs to Great Britain's Adele, who earned $80.5 million for the year, thanks to the world's best-selling "25" album. For Adele, the year 2016 was the most successful in her career. The album sales provided the main part of her worth. However, much money was also brought in by the live performances. 

2. One Direction:  The 2nd place in the 2016 rating was taken by the British group One Direction with an annual income of 110 million dollars. The era of boys’ bands will never end. Such groups simply adjust to the requirements of the time, but in general, they remain the same. This fact, however, did not prevent One Direction from receiving $ 110 million of net worth during the last year.

1. Taylor Swift: The 1st position is filled by the 26-year-old American singer Taylor Swift. The world richest musician earned $ 170 million the last year. Taylor Swift's tour through North America provided her with an impressive fortune. Swift leadership in the rating is ensured by the concert tour "1989" which started in May 2015. The total revenue from the Swift’s concerts in the world exceeded $ 250 million, while $ 200 million was earned only in the US. Also, more than 3 million Swift’s records were sold. Her royalties for advertising dietary Coke, Apple products and Keds shoes brought a significant contribution to the singer's income. In this case, the young and talented beauty won the first place in the rating of the highest paid musicians in 2016. As you can see, in the rating of the Top 20 richest musician in the world ranking by Forbes there are representatives of different styles and directions: rock, pop, hip-hop and even country. There are many young names on the list. Besides, musical "dinosaurs" and veterans of show business still set the tone in the world music for more than half a century. 

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TOP 10 Best Singer Dancers of All Time

1. Michael Jackson

 Michael Joseph Jackson was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana and passed away on June 25, 2009. He donated (at least) a remarkable 300,000,000 dollars to charity. Michael is also known as The King of Pop (a title given to him by Elizabeth Taylor) or under the initials MJ.

He is the owner of the best selling album of all time, Thriller (1982) which was awarded 30 times platinum at the beginning of 2016. His other albums Bad, Dangerous and History are all among the best charting albums of all time and all reached the number one position in the US charts.

Jackson was the first black artist whose music video (Billie Jean) was aired on MTV, and with that success he broke down a racial barrier in the music industry. With his music and music videos he revolutionized the world of pop music. Jackson is very well known for his signature dance moves (moonwalk, lean, sidewalk, Thriller dance), his famous clothing (black hat, white sequined glove, military jackets), his unique singing voice, and songs like Off the Wall, Don't Stop 'till You Get Enough, Thriller, Billie Jean, Beat It, Bad, Man In the Mirror, Heal the World, Earth Song, and They Don't Care About Us. He also is the best entertainer of all time according to the Guinness Book of Records and one of the best selling solo artists of all time.

2. Chris Brown

 Christopher Maurice "Chris" Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer and actor. Born in Tappahannock, Virginia, he was involved in his church choir and several local talent shows from a young age. He is most well known for his physical assault towards the singer Rihanna in 2009. He is also known for many hit singles, such as "Kiss Kiss", "Run It!", "Forever", "Deuces", "Look At Me Now", "Loyal", "Ayo", and "Back to Sleep".

3. Justin Timberlake

 Justin Randall Timberlake is an American singer, songwriter, actor and record producer.Born on January 31, 1981, Justin Timberlake began his career on The New Mickey Mouse Club, starring with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. In 1995, he became a teen heartthrob with the pop group *NSYNC. After the pop groups immensely successful run in the '90s, Timberlake went solo in 2002, releasing his own album, Justified. Timberlake proved he could stand alone with the Grammy-winning album, and continued his success as a solo artist with FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006) and The 20/20 Experience (2013). Aside from a prominent singing career, Timberlake also proved himself a talented actor, starring in Alpha Dog (2006), The Social Network (2010) and In Time (2011).

4. Shakira

 Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll is a Colombian-Spanish singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, choreographer, and model.Born in Colombia on February 2, 1977, hugely successfully Colombian pop singer and dancer Shakira has won multiple Grammy, Latin Grammy and American Music Awards. Known for hits like "Whenever, Wherever" and "Hips Don't Lie," Shakira is the highest-selling Colombian artist of all time, with estimates of more than 70 million albums sold worldwide. Additionally, she has served as a judge on the popular singing-competition show The Voice.

5. Rihanna

 Robyn Rihanna Fenty is a Barbadian pop singer . Born in Saint Michael and raised in Bridgetown, she first entered the music industry by recording demo tapes under the direction of record producer Evan Rogers in 2003. She ultimately signed a recording contract with Def Jam Recordings after auditioning for its then-president, hip-hop producer and rapper Jay Z.

6. Elvis Presley

 Elvis Presley was a American musician and actor. Known as "The King" He was mostly known for his number 1 singles including "Heartbreak Hotel" "Hound Dog" "Jailhouse Rock" "Love me Tender" Elvis debuted in the movie "Love me Tender" and focused less on his music and continued that way.

Elvis Presley died on Augest 16 of 1977 of a heart attack from a overdose of drugs and junk food.

7. Justin Bieber

Justin Drew Bieber (born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer, song writer, and record producer. He currently resides in Ontario, Canada (despite once claiming he was Part-Indian) and he is Christian . He is the son of an author, Pattie Mallet .

Justin Bieber is best known for his songs "Baby" and "What Do You Mean" . He is currently the only artist to have four videos reach more than 1 billion views on YouTube for "Baby", "What Do You Mean?", "Sorry", and "Love Yourself", as well as one of the few artists to have had three songs in the Top 5 on Billboard . He also has the most disliked video on YouTube, with "Baby" having 7 .3 million dislikes.

His most viewed video is "Sorry", with 2,175,000,000 views as of January 17, 2017 .

8 .  N. T. Rama Rao

 He is best dancer in India. He can do any kind of dance move without any rehearsal. Most of the choreographers dream to work with him. He gave the fame to many choreographers with his performance in films.

HE IS KING OF TELUGU FILM INDUSTRY BOTH ACTING & DANCING

9. Jason Derulo

 Jason Joel Desrouleaux, better known by his stage name Jason Derulo (an alternate spelling of his surname), is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. He is best known for his singles such as "Wiggle", "Talk Dirty", "Trumpets", "Want To Want Me", "In My Head", and "Whatcha Say", all of which have gone platinum.

10. Bruno Mars

 Peter Gene Hernandez, professionally known by his stage name Bruno Mars, is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and choreographer.

Singer-songwriter Bruno Mars was born on October 8, 1985, in Honolulu, Hawaii. By the early 2000s, he had begun to find success by writing songs for popular artists, including K'Naan's "Wavin' Flag." After several years as one of pop music's premier songwriters, Mars broke out as a singer in his own right with the 2010 hit "Nothin' on You." Other popular songs by Mars include "Just the Way You Are" (2010), "Locked Out of Heaven" (2012) and the Grammy-winning "Uptown Funk!" (2015).

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How To Become A MUSIC PRODUCER

How To Become A MUSIC PRODUCER

Career Description

 Music Producers arrange, write, produce, and record songs, whether they’re shaping the sound of another artist’s album or creating beats or songs for their own projects. With the growth of home recording technology and boutique recording studios, many Producers find themselves pulling double or triple duty as Studio Owners and Sound Engineers, as does the Rattle Room’s Jaron Luksa. He says, “I am responsible for every aspect of my business and it’s definitely not all rock ‘n’ roll glory. A typical day for me starts with checking my Producer notes, prepping the studio and checking gear functionality. If something is broken, I’d rather have a fix or workaround figured out before anyone is in the space. Once the client shows up, I want my attention 100% on the artist and the music creation process. Nothing else comes first. I usually work for about 10-12 hours with lots of ear and mental breaks worked in throughout the day. While on a break, I am usually attending to phone calls, emails, texts, social media and even accounting. There is a lot of work that goes into being a Producer outside of the studio such as attending rehearsals, meetings, writing sessions, and going out to shows. Social media has given me the ability to connect with more artists than ever, but in-person interaction will never be replaced. Half of producing is the music, the rest is sales…and I am the product I push.”

Music Producers work with Recording Artists, Recording Engineers, Session Singersand Session Musicians, among others.

Advancement

 Production is a highly competitive field, and advancement comes as a Producer builds and diversifies his or her skill set or works with more prestigious artists. Some begin their careers while working out of a home studio before generating a buzz and being invited to work on big budget projects. Luksa puts it this way. “Lots of little kids dream of being star athletes, but they’re more likely to win the lottery. The music industry has a similar statistical likelihood for artists and all us production folks trying to reach the top. I think Producers need to be realistic about the current and evolving state of the music industry. The game has changed and you have to be more than just a Producer nowadays. So many of my peers not only produce but play on records, write, engineer, DJ, program tracks or function as artists themselves to pay the bills. You have to ask yourself the question, “what kind of records do I want to produce?” because you need to be in love with the work. There is no guaranteed financial success. Competition is crazier than ever and the current demand for free content doesn’t help. You need to pick this line of work because you refuse to do anything else. It’s a hustle, and you are constantly looking for the next gig, even while working on a current project.“

Training & Education 

“Yes, formal music education is a must (know the rules before you break ’em),” Luksa says. “This industry runs at lightning speed as far as technology goes, so learn the basics from trade schools, or music schools with recording arts/music engineering and production programs. As you learn to use new gear or software, you can use that formal education as a platform to grow on. Next, apprentice with someone who is respected in the part of the industry you want to work in. You need to follow production trends and methods. Which, btw pretty much involves eating cereal and watching a stupid amount of YouTube videos on “how to” in pajamas.”

Skills & Experience  

 When it comes to necessary experience and skills, Luksa says, “there is no right path or specific skill set that will make you a great Producer. Some folks will get into producing by way of helping a friend record while playing/writing on said record, others will just be crushing tracks out of their bedroom and word gets around, while others might come to produce because they are engineering and start helping bands get through the tracking process. There is no one single magic solution to launching your career as a Producer. Play off your strengths and fake the rest!”

 The two things that are essential are passion and a diverse skill set. He says, “As a Producer, I contribute with engineering, playing, writing, arranging and creative guru skills. I approach listening to songs, bands, and artists from a fan’s perspective. I aurally digest music CONSTANTLY. If a great track comes on, I get a rush of dopamine from my brain. I truly am a music junkie. That being said, I think it comes down to my tastes and how I am able to listen to music like a multi track machine, focusing in on each element at will. I can objectively give feedback to the artist, regardless of what I would do or my musical influences. I try and produce according to that project’s genre and most importantly who the artist is artistically and how I think fans might react.

Personality

 So what kind of person would be successful as a Producer? Luksa says the ideal candidate is “organized, assertive, artistic and a great communicator. Someone who can lead the pack and rule with love, even when getting evil with some Norwegian death metal band. In the studio or rehearsals, artists look to you for answers, so you need to be thick-skinned and even-keeled. Artists bring enough drama, insecurity, and emotion into the sessions; [there’s] no need to add your baggage, so keep your BS and ego at home.“

Lifestyle

Working as a Producer can be time-consuming, with late hours, long days in the studio, and a constant scramble to get paid work—at least when getting started. Luksa advises, “When you first start, take any gig you can at the drop of a hat. Date with the significant other planned? Guess what, canceled. Going snowboarding with friends…nope taking the call. It will suck at first, but the real people who support your dream will understand and love you regardless. Let other Producers [be the ones] being flakes or screwing up, [this can] be a good opportunity to prove yourself. If you become dependable, clients will start calling you first. Half the battle is just being the individual to get the job done in a timely manner. After a few years, you can start booking yourself some normal hours. I try to work from 10 am to 10 pm and take the weekends off, but it doesn’t always work out that way. The associated stress isn’t for the faint of heart, but it does have great perks. Working in the music industry immerses you in an environment of art and culture, allows traveling or vacationing whenever and however much you want. I always have backstage access and attend lots of fun events by invite. Ultimately this environment will change and shape your future, and if you are any good, you will affect the musical environment around you.”

Employment

 So how does an aspiring Producer land that first gig? Obviously, it isn’t as straightforward as submitting an application or a resume. It’s about taking advantage of networking and learning opportunities. Luksa says, “A few years back while I was still in school, Butch Vig was quietly standing backstage at Avalon in Boston (he had performed with Garbage). I was working production but snuck over and kindly asked this same question you posed here. Butch told me that he and some friends got a place and gear to track some punk bands and make records. The rule was that bands supplied beer as payment. It worked because a lot of bands showed up.”

 Luksa started gaining experience early on. He says, “I attended Berklee’s Music Production and Engineering program, interned with a bunch of Live Sound Engineers and was offered a job mixing monitors for a Live Nation venue in Boston (Axis). I think [for] my 10th show, I ended up mixing monitors for a Bon Jovi acoustic show/live radio broadcast. . . .My interaction with the band and Jon was professional and I didn’t screw up. After the show, I realized ‘I know what I am doing…I can hang!’ For the next 6 years, I was mixing live and interacting with all these bands on a nightly basis. After the shows I mixed, I would approach the best local bands opening for the national headliners and ask them to take me into the studio to make records (I told you… it’s a hustle and I figured out my angle). I became part of a scene and networked my ass off to find clients who would pay me to go into the studio with them. I guess that’s how I broke in…? That was a good 12 years ago….Fast forward, I have toured around the world as a Live Sound Engineer and Tour Manager for some amazing artists and built a studio, The Rattle Room, where I produce and engineer all kinds of music. Oh, and I still cruise on a tour bus and do the Rock Starting once in a while.”

Earnings

 Luksa says, “I’d say starting salary is hard to nail down….In bigger cities and music industry hotspots, the money is a little better for a per track rate…but the more you work and the more “at bats” you get, the more likely you are to have a record “make it” and end up with more business. When looking at ways you can earn money as a Producer, take my advice and get paid up front! Create a simple “Producer’s Agreement” with a Lawyer that you can edit and use over and over. (It’ll be the best $500 you ever spent.) Don’t waste time with points and backend troubles, you won’t see that cash anyway. If you help write songs or hooks, figure out your writers and/or publishing split for that song and confirm it via email with other Writers until a formal split sheet is created and signed. That is the backend you should be concerned with.”

 

Groups, Unions,  Associations and Social Media,

Producers aren’t unionized, but networking and community are vital for success. Luksa advises fledgling Producers to “register with a PRO [Publishing Rights Organization] so you are prepared for writing and publishing royalty collection. Go out to shows and become part of your local scene, make friends and create contacts with Session Musicians, other Engineers, and Producers. Keep that part grassroots.”

Online, he says, “there are so many resources out there, it just depends on the music and scene you want to be a part of. Stick to where your clients might hang their interactive selves or follow other Record Producers or Engineers you respect. Always follow trends within your project’s marketing demographic via Billboard or other reporting. You don’t have to buy those records, but give them a listen. I really dig Sound On Sound, Tape Op, Mix Magazine, and Gear Slutz forums (especially when I have software or hardware questions).”

Getting Started

• “Find an artist and start, even if you have to do it for free. Trial by fire is the best way to get your hands dirty. You will learn more from your mistakes than your successes. This applies to not only creating the music but the business aspect as well.

 Big Ideas

What is the single biggest suggestion you would give to someone wanting to get into this career?

“Be yourself and go with your gut. This is art. It should be fun, inspiring and just fly by the seat of your pants crazy. Go make real music!!! If it catches on like Amy Wine house, Black Keys, Jack White, Adele, Liam Bailey, etc., then you actually served a purpose in producing real art and we need more of that. Back in the day, we had music industry gurus that decided what was good music and what people should listen to on the radio. Unfortunately, those folks have all left this earth or stopped making records. Even worse, they have been replaced by marketing and accounting personnel.”

What’s the #1 mistake people make when trying to get into this career?

“We don’t need more Producers making tracks for pop bands. The sounds have become so uniform, I can’t even hear a voice or any resemblance of artistry on the track. . . to be honest, I can’t even distinguish who it is sometimes. If your plan is to make “hits,” realize that you are making the Coca-Cola of music. It has to appeal to the largest audience possible and ends up pretty bland. That’s not to say that there isn’t good pop music, but the pop market is so oversaturated. No one buys that music anyhow and the record companies have had to shift how they make money. The big record companies serve the purpose of content creation for commercial applications, selling movies, soda, cars, and other products. It’s just not my bag because I care about the music more than the money. I’m not trying to put down the folks who do this work, I just want to inspire more people to produce out of love, not for the bling.”

What is the question people should ask about this career but rarely do?

“’What is the biggest personal reward in producing?’ Seeing or hearing your name mentioned in association with a record you believed in and loved makes it all worthwhile. Everyone who works a “normal” job and receives a paycheck every week also craves recognition for a job well done. We are human and full of emotional needs, regardless of the situation.”

What is one thing I should have asked which I didn’t?

“Who is my favorite Producer or who do I look up to? Rick Rubin. The dude is a big weirdo, but he launched a hip-hop scene, produced true gems like Tom Petty’s Wildflowers, created a record label that supported huge acts like Slayer and System Of A Down, revived careers of bands like The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Johnny Cash, Black Sabbath and Metallica. I feel he is one of the last Producer/label/A&R people that can create with a sense of artistic integrity and still achieve commercial success.”

If you could describe in one word what makes you successful, what would it be?

“Determination.”

Source:

Jaron Luksa is a Music Producer and Sound Engineer who owns the Rattle Room, a private professional recording studio in Burbank, CA.

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