Islanders Magazine

TOP MUSIC MARKETER, GALAXY BOSS, AHMED ADEPOJU OPEN UP ON WHY TOPE ALABI LEFT HIS LABEL

 

Galaxy music Company is a Lagos based music marketing company reputed for promotion and sales of musical albums of several music stars. The man behind the award-winning company is Prince Ahmed Adedigba Adepoju. His unassuming nature seems to be an advantaged for him as he3 does everything possible to hide away from publicity. This marketer per excellence has a huge and intimidating stature. He is the first son of Late Lateef Adepoju, a frontline Yoruba music promoter and producer, who owner Leaders Records which once produced  the music of Waka Queen. Salawa Abeni. To his credit and business acumen, Galaxy Music company has taken over the sales of a lot of big Yoruba movies, with an undeniable reputation as a leading music marketing company of Yoruba music in Nigeria. Before now, little was known about the company which according to Prince Ahmed, the owner, was established in in 1994. The company over years has successfully marketed works of music star like. Tope Alabi, Yinka Ayefele, Evangelist Ojo Ade, St, Janet, Iya Ghana (Islamic singer), Shola Allyson, Ahmed Alawiye, Waheed Ariyo, Atinuke Oba Nla, Oba Sioni, Evang. Bukola Akinnanu Adeoye (Omije Oju Mi), Prophet Adeshiana Asala, Sidat Fatimoh and Mujidat Damilola (Wabillahi). Other artistes whose works the company has marketed include late Bukola Olomola (Baba Ara), Timi Oshikoya and Esther Adeola, Alhaja Zaheedat Ogunremi (Iyanghana), Kafayat Singer and Alhaji Fatimah Al-Jafariyah. He recently granted Islanders magazine publisher, Ola Muhammed an interview where he spoke on his success, why he is not marketing Tope Alabi’s new albums, his business secret and why his company has continued to market the works of several musicians.

 

How has it been managing a leading record label like Galaxy music? I would attribute every success I have been able to achieve to God. managing Galaxy Music has been through hard work and being abreast of what is happening in Nigerian music industry and what music loving Nigerian want to listen to.

How did music marketing start for you?

I started music marketing business while I was in secondary school. Then I got interested in the way artists re-hearsed and recorded their songs in the studio during production. when I was on holidays, I would go to leaders records to help in stock taking and some accounting exercises. So I learnt everything about music marketing at Leaders Records owned by my Late dad.

Why didn’t you continue with Leaders Records instead of floating Galaxy music?  Essentially, I wanted to run a music marketing company that will be a different brand. That made me set up galaxy music in 1994. Though Galaxy music by operating is an extension of leaders records. I did not imagine it would grow this big. I wanted to prove to my dad that I could improve on what he did with Leaders Records.

It is unfortunate he is not alive to see what I have done with Galaxy music. I am sure he would have been proud of me.

How do you cope with issues of artists and issues of controversies and terms of agreement? I learnt about how to deal with negative issues bordering on agreement and record deals with artists from my father. I learnt from him how to deal with artists differently. I must confess it is very easy. What I do is allow them to try other record labels. Once there is a comparison, an average artiste will surely know the better company.

And in the case of any artiste from a label coming to Galaxy Music, we let the record label know and so we tidy up all necessary arrangement. And for those who have left us and wish to come back we are always open for business.

Can you tell us why it is not Galaxy Music that is marketing Tope Alabi’s latest works, “Agbetegbu” and “Alagbara”?

 

We don’t have any problem with Tope Alabi. We paid her 100% of what was due to her for sales of previous albums. For the new album, her husband, Soji Alabi feels they will be better off if they float a label that will market the album themselves, and that they will make more money. I think it is not a bad idea for them to improve on their business. And any day they feel like doing business with us we are ready to work with them. We had no quarrel with Tope Alabi and her husband.

Can you shed more light on your deal with Yinka Ayefele? Ayefele is one artiste I respect so much. So also is Evangelist Ojo Ade and Senwele Jesu. These 3 musicians have never given us any problem. They are straight in their dealings. I can vouch for the trio, they are not people of double standards.

 

Will that suggest that his next album or musical video will be marketed by Galaxy music?

I believe whatever will be mine not clued me. I can not determine what will happen except God.

Can you tell us a few artists that your outfit markets their works?

I can say for about 4 years now we have been working with Ayefele. Senwele Jesu has been with us in the last 5 years. In the lasy 9 years, we have been working with Evangelist Ojo Ade. For 10 years, we have been working with Alhaja Seidat Al-Jafariyah and for 4 years, we have been marketing all Saint Janet’s albums. We, for 3 years now we have been markting the works of Hajaya Basirat a.k.a. Iya Ghana.

For about 10 year snow, we have been marketing the work of Ilaje Gospel star, Prince Dabo Ojugbuyi. The last 6 albums of Late Chief Dennis Osadebe were marketed by Galaxy Music. When late Evangelist Olabukola  Olomola ak.a. Baba Ara was alive, we marketed his last albums. The artists who we I market their work don’t usually leave us and those who go will always come back to us.

 

What is responsible for Galaxy music marketing works of several artists for years?

The deals we offer artists are very attractive and juicy for them to refuse. In most cases they don’t get such offers from other marketing outfits. So those who leave us want come back and enjoy what they have been enjoying while they were with us.

What was your late dad’s role in Galaxy Music when he was alive?

He was an adviser and he was very supportive.

Can you let us into your family background?

I am the 1^st son of late Alhaji Adepoju, the owner of Leaders Records. We hail from Ijebu Igbo. I am married with kids.

Aside from music, what other thing do you do?

I am also into sales of cars and car parts. I import them from Europe and United States. This marketing business does not in any way affect my car sales business.

 

How do you cope with female admirers and female artistes who believe they can get better deals from you?

 

I cope well and know when to draw. The line. I have been married now for years and God has helped me build a good home.

 

What would you say is the secret of your success?

I will attribute it to passion. Aside that, I also love music and listen to all kinds of music. I never imagined we would go this far. I also work very well on promoting new works of artistes in Nigeria.

 

What is the next level for Galaxy music?

Our dreams is to be the first indigenous record label to market the works of foreign artistes.

 

What is your opinion on piracy?

Tackling piracy has not been easy. The government needs to be involved in the fight against piracy. So what we do in Galaxy Music is to make sure that it is only original copies of our works that are out, to reduce the strength of the pirated.

 

Since you inherited the business from your dad, do you also plan that your kids will go into music marketing?

 

Yes, it is something I would like because it is a business I got into through my father’s influence too.