Like it or not, the Kenyan music industry is just but a shell, says Eric Omondi.
The oomph and excitement died years ago. What is left are just remnants of what a few think and call growth.
“Industry is growing, they keep saying” yet, from all the billions worth content created, our creatives still get peanuts as royalties and a few endorsements here and there. Only God knows how our talented artists survive.
The shows are countable, pay as well all know – disrespectful. Even the mightiest Gospel music cartels, will agree now; we have no industry here.
The gatekeepers made so many artists think otherwise, as they controlled and killed so dreams.
Eventually, the music stopped coming in like it used to, and the end of the Gospel music regime,came crushing, unfortunately to a silent almost dead end.
What have we learnt so far, absolutely nothing. As our neighboring countries’ artists enjoy good life out of their work. Our brothers and sisters in Kenya continue to receive the bare minimum, in shows, payments and even airplay.
We allowed a few now, non-popular and jaded presenters and DJs to select for us who to listen to. Even when their choice and taste would not stand the test of time.
Eric Omondi says the only person who will be here for a long time is Willy Paul, hate it or love it.
Willy Paul is the only artist, who will be relevant and still producing hits, in years to come. The rest will have retired, most of them with nothing to show for, all their years of work and sweat sadly.
Eric Omondi gives his reason, why he believes the music industry is dead, and why Will Paul will come to its aid eventually.
After years of complaining and accusations, we are still stagnant. I see no growth yet honestly.
Kenya’s music industry does not have a proper functioning system even after decades because, generally we’ve not accepted music and art fully as careers worth investing in, just like any other disciplines and trades.
We do not have, enough laws to protect creatives and systems to collect revenue.
What we have, are people who think they know, how things should be done and run, yet they do nothing substantial year in year out.
Music distributors are a joke, event organizers always undercutting Kenyan creatives, radio and TV a darling to foreign content. Without putting ours first, we will never build any industry people.
Eric says, “The First time I saw this guy was at Mavuno Church South C in 2012 while he performed Sitolia. I want to Submit to you that Willy Paul is with all honesty the most hardworking and Consistent Kenyan Musician ever. He has fought battles none of us would have ever won. The entire Industry has more than once ganged up against him but he is still here today, somehow. I saw and personally witnessed “Cartels” in the Gospel industry try to destroy him and finally managed to push him out. The guy is EXTREMELY talented and fully understands SHOWBIZ…His song with Alain was the 1st ever Kenyan song to hit 20 Million and more. WHY DO WE FIGHT WILLY PAUL? WHY DO WE HATE ON HIM??? I am not a prophet but Mark my WORDS, the Salvation of this DEAD Music Industry will very SOON come from this GUY!!! KEEP GOING!!! YOU ARE ALMOST THERE!!!🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪”
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