Industry Nite: 6 Years Of Connecting the Music to the Business

Esther/ED: Who exactly is the Industry Nite targeted at?

Matthew/IN: The Industry Nite is generally targeted at artistes and artiste showcasing whether new or established. We work with producers sometimes.

Esther/ED: What exactly is the purpose of the Industry Nite? What is the idea behind the Industry Nite?

Matthew/IN: When we started, the whole idea was to bring people from different industries to network with people in the entertainment and media industry and to see how they could influence and help build the entertainment industry.  With time, it became solely entertainment driven.  It’s not only for music artistes to attend but also for producers, enthusiasts, record label execs, artists looking for record labels and likes.   

The Industry Nite has become more like a networking party for people in the entertainment, media and advertising industries.  These are the key sectors.  So on a regular Industry Nite event, you will find presenters, TV Execs, Music artistes, producers, PR professionals and likes.

Esther/ED: How would you say the Industry Nite has affected the Entertainment Industry as a whole?

Matthew/IN: We have been able to create a touring platform which nobody has done up till now.    When we started, we were the only one having a weekly artist showcase, consistently.   Now, we do have some clubs and promoters coming up with own platform, which is good for the industry, but so far we are the ones who have been here the longest and credible for this.  We also need other people to come around because the industry is big and the Industry Nite cannot really accommodate every artiste.

Before we started, there were so many artistes but there were very few places for them to be seen and heard; where they could expose themselves.  We’ve have been able to give the industry a permanent platform for this.   

We have been able to provide a structure for shows, promotions and publicity. So many artistes have come up via the industry Nite using it as a spring board.  People like Burna boy, Seyi shey, Dami Crane, Sean Tizzle, Yemi Alade and so many  have benefited from Industry Nite in the past and still do.  So we have been able to create opportunities for artistes.

We have been able to take artistes on tour across Nigeria. Every quarter, we take artistes on the road to three states or more outside Lagos.  The idea is to promote them and get their music out there.   This is what the industry is lacking right now. You really can’t do music business without having a touring platform.   The Nigerian music industry does not really have a concrete touring platform and the IN is trying to fill in that void.   And that’s what we did last year by taking artistes to South Africa, New York, Dubai, London, Ghana, Cotonou, and many more cities.

Esther/ED: What are your future plans?

Matthew/IN: We want to build this industry.  Like I said, you can’t do music without touring. We need to be able to tour across Nigeria, Africa and the world easily.   If we are not filling up venues and creating that impact internationally, then we won’t be able to generate enough revenue on an international scale. We need to take Nigerian music mainstream.  And to do this we need to do international shows, and be able to fill out arenas all across the world with proper touring platforms, touring agents, and touring dues.

Esther/ED: How do artistes get on the industry Nite?

Matthew/IN: We have a website, industrynite.net. Upload your music on the website and reach out to us via our email. If your music is good, you can be on IN.  You also need to understand that there is a backlog.

Esther/ED: So been on IN is not about paddy paddy?

Matthew/ IN: Anybody can be on the Industry Nite.  If your music is good, you will featured on Industry Nite.

Esther/ED: Is there a gate fee

Matthew/IN: No Gate fee

Esther/ED: But there is a bouncer who would bounce any riff raff who thinks who can just go in and hang out with the celebs? Lolz

Matthew/IN: *Laughs* Of course there are bouncers.

Website: Industrynite.net

Twitter: @Industry_nite

Facebook/IndustryNiteOnline

Industry Nite holds every Wednesdays at Spice Roots on Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island at 8pm.

Matthew Ohio: is the Executive producer and brain child behind the Industry Nite which started 6 years ago.  He is also the Managing Director of El Carnaval, an events and entertainment company, which also behind the Industry Nite.