Getting Radio Stations To Play Our Songs Has Always Been A Challenge - UTEE

We hope to build a City where artists do not need to express themselves before gaining recognition. But it is sad that some persons have taken it as a means of livelihood. In course of promoting despirate artists, showcasing or giving them the right platforms for recognition, some persons have grabbed such opportunities and have turned it into a means of extortion. Little wonder, sometime ago, it became a burden in my heart, despite the numerous music artists we have in the Garden City, you could easily count the number of them that have paved their way on air. I strongly believe that news or brands spread faster on-air. And I strongly believe that must have been the cause of the fame of the few we have in the industry. They made good use of the mass media.

In a bid of finding out what lies in the mind of the Artistes in Port Harcourt, RhemaCity Blog spent a good time with some artists just to find out what they feel toward the brand we have been trying to build in Port Harcourt. And sincerely, some comments were quite disgusting. As a lot was revealed on what transpires in the music industry, the backstage and in radio stations.

One of the Artistes who spoke so emotionally is UGWU THOMAS popularly known as UTEE. Read what he said during the interview.

May We Meet you?

My name is Ugwu Thomas, Known as Utee, am from Enugu state, I studied surveying and geoinformatics, at Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, am a lover of entertainment, am an upcoming artist, I love afro pop, am a dancer, am into modelling also, I was the Emeritus Mr creative of SUG 2015/2016. Emeritus Best catwalk spat Joe entertainment 2016/2017. But am focusing more on my music career.

So How Long Have You Been Into Music?

I have been writing since my secondary school days. At that time, I had no cash to voice them. I started recording in 2017. I have recorded two songs already. I did not Blog my first song because it was not of a good quality I was too anxious to hear my voice been recorded and it became a wark! On my second recording, I blogged it on site, and am still working on more.

How Did You Come About Your Stage Name UTEE?

I coined it from my full name " Ugwu Thomas ".

What Have Been Your Greatest Challenge In The Music Industry?

The main challenge is "financial issue" producing a beat, recording it, promoting it on sites, shooting a video, all these requires money. Making production to a quality standard, it requires money and that the major challenge now.

Nevertheless, Getting a good producer to record your song is another challenge, some producers have got good facilities for recording but they can't produce a good job. Some have got the skills but no good facilities to work with. While some will do a bad job just because they are not getting huge pay from the artist who is trying to make his way out.

Getting radio station to play our song is a challenge too, they ask for a huge amount just to air our songs. Hooking up with a DJ to play our songs also bid for money,  trying to perform at an event, the organizers too will ask you for money.  Brother each stage of it is frustrating and requires money.

So What Do You Think Is The Way Out

Putting my effort and believing in God is the way out. And I know someday I am going to be there, never going to quit. That's my dream.

Judging from this interview, you would succumb to the fact that finance has been the major challenge of every artist in PHCity and beyond. But I leave you with this question, WHAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS FINANCE SAGA?