AS NIGERIAN MUSIC GOES GLOBAL, STAR MUSIC RETAINS SPOT AS NO 1 MUSIC APP

This is something we can all agree on. Nigerian artists now tour the world and African radio airwaves are saturated with Nigerian music. There are hundreds of websites and blogs dedicated to news, discussions and downloads of Nigerian music. There are even satellite TV channels, which broadcast exclusively Nigerian music content. The Nigerian music industry is a very big deal now.

In the midst of all this expansion, one hole, which seems to have remained stubbornly unfilled is that of a rich, user-friendly mobile application for the Nigerian music industry – a music app, as against a mere content streaming or music magazine platform. The solution may just have come from the most unlikely of sources.

It is not often that you find a brand that reads the yearnings of its consumers even when they are silent, and gives them exactly what they need.

This is what Star has done with its new mobile application. The Star Music App is exactly what young music lovers in Nigeria have been yearning for. Not only do they get to identify with a much loved brand, but they also get to enjoy great music and a premium user experience.

Star Music App is a music platform, which incorporates content streaming, bulk downloads, charts, curated content and playlists, entertainment news and editorial pieces into one aesthetically pleasing and simple user interface.

Underneath the simple-looking UI, the app packs a lot of punch with fully developed sections dedicated to upcoming artists, feature articles from music journalists and industry insiders, exclusive releases, news scoops, videos and user-generated favorites.The Star Music App also provides a great selection of the latest songs and videos for the music lover, as though it were a collaborative Mixtape from Nigeria’s hottest DJs in addition to a great news, gists and gossip feature for those that want to keep up-to-date with the activities of their favorite celebs. 

The main thing that sets STAR Music App apart from a typical music streaming app is that it does not focus only on discovering and listening to music, neither does it place an emphasis on getting users to explore back-content from its (huge) content library. In fact, by ordering content chronologically with the newest content first, it is structured in a way that makes users more likely to explore the newer content, much like a typical Nigerian music blog.

In this sense, it is trying to do something unprecedented in Nigeria by combining the functions of a curated content streaming service with that of a music magazine and occupying those market spaces as one single platform. Indeed, a look at the ‘Features’ tab on the platform reveals  that a lot of work has gone into this – hasty marketing gimmick this most certainly is not.

Another major unique characteristic of this platform is that all content is carefully curated. A lot of emphasis is placed on providing only premium content to users. Music and video content, playlists, emerging artists and charts are crafted and managed so that only the best of content is delivered. On a daily basis, music tracks and videos are also selected to be featured. What this also does is that it saves users the hassle of trawling through the platforms searching for great content as all the hard work has been done for them.

Star Music App users are given daily notifications regarding what music, video or news content is hot currently and will be of interest to them. Users of the mobile app are able to access content directly from their home screens using widgets, and they are also able to make use of the nifty bulk-download feature to download multiple tracks at simultaneously. Users who do not want to download content are able to stream it, and the app is upfront about data usage, which is likely to be a hit with mobile data consumers. And unlike Jay Z’s Tidal, which has been in the news lately, Star Music App is also completely free to use.

So basically, here we have a Nigerian music platform available on desktop, mobile Internet and Android, which gives users the freedom to stream or download, and which incorporates entertainment news, features, exclusives and scoops. All its content is carefully planned and ordered for the user’s convenience and it provides a platform for emerging talent to be heard and discovered. Throw in the bonus of being accessible to all mobile devices through the mobile web site and do we finally have Nigeria’s first blockbuster music industry platform?

Only time can answer that question.

The app is currently available for free download on Android devices. You can also check out Star Music mobile site here. 

Now, what’s not to love about this?

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VIDEO: BLACK MAGIC FT. VECTOR, PHYNO & REMINISCE - AFRICA REMIX

Here's a hot new video to a remix from one of the hottest tracks on BlackMagic's Version 2.0 album, Africa. This song features some of the hottest rappers in the Nigerian music industry right now, the award winning Vector, Phyno, and Reminisce. This song was produced by Kid Konnect. Check out the video below.

Africa Remix

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PICS & VIDEO: NIKKI LAOYE'S ANGEL 4 LIFE FOUNDATION PROVIDES RELIEF AID FOR INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN KUCHINGORO CAMP, ABUJA

Multiple Award winning singer/humanitarian, Nikki Laoye has stepped out to support internally displaced Nigerians via her foundation, Angel 4 Life, with the relief project tagged "The Angel Relief Fund".

Nikki Laoye visited the Kuchingoro camp in FCT on Monday, March 23rd, along with her husband, Alex Oturu; top gospel artists from Abuja (Faith Yebo, Japhy Davies, Chris Ade, Chris Tover, Samfoni) and officials of the government agency, NCFRMI (National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons) led by Director of IDPs, Mrs Magaret Essien and Director of Migration, Hajia Amina Ibrahim.

The Kuchingoro camp is a makeshift one with houses made of sticks and old sacks of rice used as walls & windows. The men have also built a viewing centre using the same materials, for amusement purposes & connection to the outside world.The children were also seen attending school on an open field, with the younger ones learning under the trees while the older ones are taught under a canopy.

Food supplies, Relief Items and Toys were distributed to the displaced men, women and children who had moved to the camp from Borno and Adamawa States. Meetings were also held with the group leaders of the camp community to discuss their present situation with promises and plans of future support from the foundation to help with the empowerment of the men and women as well as the education of the children on the camp.

The women and children of the camp sang and danced to celebrate Nikki and the rest of her team, in appreciation of the love and concern that was shown to them. In response, led by singer, Chris Tover, the musicians - Faith Yebo, Japhy Davies, Chris Ade, Chris Tover, Samfoni with Nikki Laoye also sang and prayed for them in Hausa.

Kuchingoro camp is just one of the many IDP camps set up with barely enough room for the thousands of Nigerians who had run for safety from the North Eastern part of Nigeria as no fewer than 3.3 million Nigerians were displaced by conflicts in the immediate past year.

In line with her service as an ambassador for the NCFRMI commission, Nikki Laoye has set up The Angel Relief Fund to further support the ongoing relief works for internally displaced persons (IDPs) within Nigeria, who have been badly hit by the scourge of violence & terrorism.

Last year, Nikki Laoye was appointed as the Celebrity Voice for Refugees and IDPs by the agency's SouthWest zone, to bring to the forefront the activities of the NCFRMI as well as the plight of refugees & internally displaced persons.

Speaking about the initiative, Nikki Laoye says "It is really a sad situation in the north for our fellow brothers and sisters and we do pray for God's help and strength to our troops to quench this invasion once and for all. In the meantime, We have to look out for our own and do what we can to soothe their pains. They are in constant need of food, water, clothing and more to survive daily as they rebuild their lives once again. It's the little we can do. I say a big God bless you to everyone who has donated and supported this initiative – We are Strong Together, Thank you".

Nikki Laoye and her foundation kicked off The Angel Relief Fund last month, with the support and donations of well meaning individuals, organisations and her fellow colleagues in the entertainment industry.

A social media campaign was also created with specially designed promo pictures of celebrities speaking out for a better Nigeria and soliciting for more support for the displaced in the North which were shared on their social media platforms to create further awareness amongst their fan network. They also supported the relief fund with personal donations.

Some of the celebrities include Yemi Alade, Show Dem Camp, Faith Yebo, Steve Babaeko, Anny Ibrahim, Seyi Shay, Oscar & Titi Oyinsan , Waje, Rotimi Keys, Lara George, Kiki Omeili, Niyola, Ada Ehi, Olaitan Dada, Frank Edwards, Emma Nyra, Timi Dakolo, Monique, Sammie Okposo, Joe Praize, Mike Abdul, Onos, Ibitayo Jeje, Omenesa, Gaise Baba, Praiseworld Radio, Capital F.E.M.I, Do2Dtun of Cool FM, Uche Nnaji of OUCH, ToluFame, Jenny O (HipTV Presenter) and many more. 

Pastor Tunde Ayeni of Graceville Christian Centre Abuja also supported the outreach with the provision of two large white buses with drivers to help with the transportation of the team and relief items to and fro the camp.Top media companies in Abuja - Big H Studios and El-Gibbor Video Productions supported the initiative with  free photography & video services for the day.

#TheAngelReliefFund initative is an ongoing awareness fund raising campaign to synthesize the public about the situation in Northern Nigeria and also get more involvement and donations from the society towards their needs.All Donations are used to provide food, medical supplies, care and support for internally displaced persons at different IDP camps across the nation.

Nikki Laoye's Angel 4 Life Foundation has actively conducted humanitarian projects in Nigeria for the past five years and impacted many Nigerians through different programs for people with disabilities such as the Buy A Cane project for visually impaired individuals; Inclusive Education projects for physically challenged students and currently the empowerment and support of internally displaced Nigerians via The Angel Relief Fund initiative.

For information and enquiries about The Angel Relief Fund, Contact Nikki Laoye's Angel 4 Life Foundation
Email: a4lfoundation@gmail.com
Call: 08094848096, 08023415509
www.angel4lifefoundation.org

 

Here are more pictures below: 

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NEW VIDEO: M.I ABAGA FT. CHIGURL - MONKEY

From the Chairman Album, here's M.I Abaga's "Monkey" video, featuring Chi Gurl. Check it out below.

Download Audio

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NIGERIAN IDOL CONTESTANT MAKES A MESS OF FLAVOUR’S SONG ‘ADA ADA’

…. As Benue hosts Nigerian Idol for the first time

This is one video that will leave you with mixed emotions of anger and laughter.

For the first time in 4 seasons, Africa’s biggest music reality show, Nigerian Idol made a stop at the Food Basket of Nigeria, Benue for an opportunity to harvest unique voices.

23-year-old, Patrick Ahemba thought it a good idea to meet the judging trio of Dare Art-Alade, Nneka Egbuna and Dede Mabiaku with his own version of Flavour’s hit track, ‘Ada Ada.’ 

Not only did he sing off key, he got the words all mumbled up and totally different from the original version. “Did you practice this song very well? If you did there is absolutely nothing in this world you will be able to sing,” said an irritated Dede.

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