Entertainment

Ateke Tom Bankrolls Rivers PMAN

Published

13 years ago

May 17, 2013

Rivers State born High life Maestro, King Sunny Brown has expressed gratitude to ex-militant leader, Ateke Tom whom he said has been bankrolling the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) over the years as well as extending financial support to upcoming musicians in the state to record their albums in order to give them a sense of belonging and self actualisation.

The living legend condemned the leadership tussle rocking the Association in the State stressing that the crisis is not only killing the musicians’ Association, but has brought bad-image to the musician themselves . He noted that the power tussle has created various factions among the members as a result, things have fallen apart in the once Prestigious Association.

The highlife King who spoke with The Tide Entertainment recently, disclosed that every member of the association wants to be a leader, while the leaders whose one year tenure had elapsed refused to vacate their offices because of greed and selfish interest.

According to him, instead of moving forward like their counterparts in other states, the association has remained in the limbo over the years.

He disclosed that the incumbent chairman Peter Stone Cold whose tenure had expired since last year is still in office. He contended that though an electoral committee has been set up to conduct election and swear in new executives, nothing positive has come out of the committee because of vested interest.

King Sunny Brown who is also one of the Elders of PMAN in the State observed that due to the ugly development in the musicians’ body most of the members have left the Association. He advised that before the election is conducted, efforts should be made by the committee to unite the various factions because there cannot be any credible election where the warring factions still exist.

He noted that apart from the leadership crisis, the musicians at the various local government areas of the state should be carried along. He maintained that the Association is not PMAN Port Harcourt, but PMAN Rivers State, therefore membership should spread to the 23 local government areas of the state. He called for grassroot mobilisation and participation in the affairs of the body in order to give them a sense of belonging to enable them contribute their quota towards the development of the Association.

The highlife crooner appealed to the state government, corporate organisations and highlife lovers to support his foundation which is aimed at promoting the younger musicians, teach them the various instruments and write their songs among others, in order to ensure quality and continuity in the music industry.

In a related development, the newly constituted leadership of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigerian (PMAN) last week, expelled the former administrator of the Association, Tec Mac Omatshola Itsali and others for alleged anti union activities. They are Brigadier Brown Bread, Joshua Omktnuale, Orits Williki Arthur Pepple Jnr, Oizz Ikhide, Chris Mba and King-Faladey.

The expulsion was contained in a communiqué dated 19 April 2013, signed by the general secretary of PMAN , Kenny A. George.

Entertainment

Why Fans No Longer Faint For Musicians – Paul Okoye

Published

2 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Nigerian singer and half of the defunct P-Square duo, Paul Okoye, aka Rudeboy, has claimed that social media has reduced the prestige and value fans attached to musicians due to the mystique that artistes had before the era of social media.
Speaking in a recent interview with Lun Lifestyle TV, Rudeboy argued that social media, despite all its benefits, has shattered the illusion of artistes being mysterious and godlike.
This he said has reduced the buzz artistes previously enjoyed whenever their fans got the opportunity to see them whether physically or visually.
The ‘Reason With Me’ crooner explained that because artistes are no longer mysterious, fans are no longer eager to watch them in music videos.
He claimed that shooting music videos is now a waste of money.
Rudeboy said, “Music videos somehow now, because of this generation, is a waste of money. I am sorry to say this. But do you remember us [P-Square] before? You don’t see us anywhere. You just watch music videos, you see us and that’s it, or we come to your country, you see us.
“The reason you don’t see people faint for artistes anymore is because they see them on TikTok every day dancing and promoting your music. If Michael Jackson was alive now and doing promotional content on social media, nobody would see him and faint.
“Unfortunately, it’s too late for us to bring back the era of artistes being mystiques. How can you advise an artiste to post every day? How? Post what? You don’t need to.
“Social media brought positive change to the industry but it also led to ‘see-finish.’ Artistes are now too exposed. Fans see how they eat, cry. Before when artistes go to club, they stay in restricted VIP areas, but now when they are clubbing, everyone is filming.”

Entertainment

Davido’s Aide Offers Cash Reward For Missing Phone At Zlatan’s Wedding

Published

2 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Afrobeats superstar, Davido’s aide, Damilare Aladegbola, popularly known as Dre, has offered a cash reward to whoever returns his phone, which he claims went missing during rapper Zlatan Ibile’s wedding ceremony.
Dre made the appeal in a post on his Instagram page on Monday, pleading with the person who allegedly took the device to return it in exchange for money.
“If na u carry my phone for Zlatan wedding, abeg return am, I go give you money please,” he wrote.
The aide also expressed frustration over what he suggested was a method being used to take phones at social gatherings.
He said he would no longer tolerate waiters asking whether guests had finished eating so they could clear their plates, alleging that the practice could provide an opportunity for phones left on tables to be taken.
“From now on, if I go any party or dey any party and any stupid waitress tell me say are you done eating so I can pack your plate, na swear I go swear for you cause na pattern wey una dey use pack phone for table be that now,” he added.
However, Dre did not identify anyone suspected of taking his phone or provide further details about how the device went missing.
Zlatan Ibile tied the knot with his longtime partner, Davita Lamai, during a traditional wedding ceremony on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
The ceremony, held in Lagos, attracted several celebrities, fans and well-wishers, with Davido among the prominent guests and leading the groomsmen.

Entertainment

I Ran Away From Nigeria, Never Wanted To Come Back-Chidinma

Published

2 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Popular singer, Chidinma Ekile has revealed that before transitioning from secular music to the gospel genre, she “ran away” from Nigeria.
Speaking at a recent Eezee Conceptz event, Chidinma explained that she travelled abroad and wanted to secure permanent residency because she didn’t want to return to Nigeria, but failed.
She revealed that while she was abroad, the CEO of Eezee Conceptz was the only person calling her from Nigeria, so she decided to work with him upon her return.
“I travelled. I ran away from Nigeria. I was processing my papers not to come back to Nigeria, but for some reason, it didn’t work.
“While I was abroad, the CEO of Eezee Conceptz was the only one who was calling me from Nigeria. He kept encouraging me, and I found the strength to come back to Nigeria. When I came back, I asked him to give me a gospel music contract because I want to spend time with God. And he gave me a contract that even my lawyer said seemed like a charity,” Chidinma stated.
The music star added that she did not transition into gospel music because she wanted to make gospel, but because she wanted a serious relationship with God.