An uprising music sensation in Rivers State, Mr Okey Smith has called on the Nigerian censors Board (WCB) and other regulatory bodies to put all machineries in operation in order to rebrand the Nigerian Music Industry raise the present standard as well as make it a viable sector of the nation’s economy.

The call was made by an upcoming hip hop artiste, Mr Okey Smith in an interview with The Tide entertainment recently. He noted that the music industry is an important arm of the Nigerian Entertainment Clan. Stressing that apart from yielding revenue, it also generates employment opportunities to thousands of youths thereby reducing unemployment in the country.

He said the importance of music cannot be over emphasized in contemporary Nigerian Society, therefore the nation’s census board should use the powers conferred on it to regulate and determine the types of songs and videos to be allowed in the market or released for public consumption.

He stressed that songs lack positive messages should not only be bound, but denied massive air, air as it is done today. He condemned the radio and television stations that encourage the meaningless and offensive songs by playing them to the public to hear.

Mr Smith suggested that awards should be given to deserving musicians as an encouragement for work well done. According to him, this will also serve as a source of inspiration for others to improve on their works and aspire towards higher and better standards, right content and rich message which are the criteria for success.

According to him, the growing number of delinquent crimes being experienced in the society today may not be unconnected with the examples being laid down by the so called modern artistes whom  the youths are emulating as their role models.

It will be recalled that the importance of music as a soul of the universe was also emphasized by great thinkers.

According to plato, “music is a moral law, it gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, gaiety and life to everything. It is the essence of order and lends to all that is good, just and beautiful.

For Socrates, “musical training is a more potent instrument than any other because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul on which they mightily fasten, imparting grace and making the soul of him who is rightly educated graceful or of him who is uneducated ungrateful.”

It is on this note that we appreciate musicians such as Onyeka Owemnu, Stephen Osadebe, Oliver De Cooge, Rex Lawson, King Sunny Ade, Commander Ebenezer Obey, Victor Olaiya and of recent, 2 Face Idibia, 9ice, Dare Art Alade, Face, Sound Sultan, D’Baaj among others  whose songs are not only inspiring, but educative and competes favourably with their counter parts in other parts of the world. The upcoming stars should emulate these great acts instead of reeling out nonsense and noise in the name of music.