Mr. Sam Onyemelukwe the managing director, Entertainment Management Company (EMC) Nigeria & TRACE in Nigeria, has identified technology, creativity, partnerships and professionalism as obvious factors for the long term survival of the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Speaking to the press in Lagos, Onyemelukwe who comes from a creative background, having begun his career in 1995 at Walt Disney Television in Buena Vista, California in the post production department, noted that government’s part in the industry’s sustainability plan entails the provision of enabling ground, infrastructural developments and funding.

He said, “No doubt, the Nigerian entertainment industry has come of age, but we need a clearer plan for long term sustainability of the talents and investments already in place. For instance, apart from funds, the industry can thrive better when professionalism is entrenched; which will benchmark artists, producers and others in the industry. It is going to do everybody good in the industry when that happens.

“For us in TRACETV; in fact, ask the artists themselves, they will tell you that we have professionalized our processes, operating in standards that will take many of our competitors years to attain.

“That is why in the last 4 years TRACE has worked with a good number of brands like St Eve for the Summer Jam Fest with Rick Ross; Diageo (Smirnoff Industry Nite & Johnnie Walker – Black Podium); Nokia (Don’t Break the Beat); Airtel ( Airtel TRACE Music Star); OLX (OLX TV AD Campaign); Ledrop (Remy Martin ,St Remy & Jack Daniels); GD Netter – Handled Creative duties for the Henessy Artistry Campaign 2011;             GSK (Ribena & Lucozade); HP Nigeria; Tecno; Etisalat; MTN; Africa’s Next Top Model; Access Bank; Pepsi –Top Ten Music Chart Show; Samsung; Glo, among others. What did we achieved with them? We worked in the capacity of Selling Sponsorships, Event Management, Production, Talent Management, Innovative Digital Media Solutions, etc”.

“Another important point as the industry climbs the ladder of progress is partnership. You will find out that people engage in unnecessarily rate cuts so as to strike a deal, but at the end, it is either they do shoddy job or pay from their pockets to execute the job. When you lower your standards, don’t expect it will get better next time.

“If we have not leaved up to expectations, we wouldn’t have executed such campaigns as: Nokia’s Don’t Break the Beat; creative duties GD Netter’s Hennessy Artistry Campaign; Airtel TRACE Music Star; Smirnoff Industry Nite; Johnnie Walker’s THE SEAT; OLX Advertising Campaign; Ledrop (Remy Martin – At the Club with Remy/Remy Gbedu Slam) and others”.

“In terms of technology and the impact on the whole thing, it is at the centre of all this. Technology galvanizes, it sets you out from others and helps the creative ability in you to be put in proper shape. We believe that the entertainment village project to be built at the National Theatre, Lagos will come on soon, because the industry needs that. Even at this time we are talking about digital broadcasting, we need such infrastructure for independent producers to leverage for quality local contents production”.

TRACE is a brand and an international media group that provides contemporary music and sports entertainment content to a large and predominantly young audience.

Its core business is original content and pay-tv channels, available in English and French, distributed in over 150 countries through 28 satellites and 200 carriage agreements.

TRACE represents the voice of the youths, playing the best of R ‘n’ B and Hip Hop videos. Since its launch in April 2003, the channel has grown to include TRACE Urban, TRACE Tropical and TRACE Sports Stars, TRACE Africa and TRACE Toca

Inspired by the vibrant music scene, the electrifying artists, great music videos and the passionate creative spirit TRACE launched in Nigeria with a view to promote African music globally under EMC Nigeria  who are the Exclusive representatives for TRACE in West Africa.

EMC Nigeria is also a Media and communications outfit that provides a complete suite of services from Brand Marketing Concept Development, Talent Management to Broadcast and Event Production.

Onyemelukwe after establishing himself in the media and entertainment, had spent the next decade between the worlds of fashion and music, producing and directing numerous performances and shows as well as working in Artist and Repertoire, developing young acts.

He most recently ran MTV Base’s Nigeria business, creating and executing campaigns, including concert events and club parties and Broadcast TV Production for LG, Coca Cola, Airtel and Cadbury Buttermint.

To summarize TRACE in Nigeria, he said, “we operate as a youth and young at heart brand solutions provider. In addition to providing access to music obsessed youth through our popular leading Trace Urban TV channel, we also produce world class broadcast TV content such as Pepsi Top 10, OLX Truth Series, handle talent management, provide Media & Advertising campaign solutions, Event Production for brands in Nigeria”.