By IFECHI OKOH                                

Nigeria’s foremost records label, Premier, has concluded plans to return in grand fashion to the centre stage of recording business in Nigeria, as they marked 60 years of existence in the concern.

This cheering news was made public recently during an exclusive close-up on their Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Mike Odiong, who maintained that he was poised to returning the frontline records production company to its pride of place over the years.                                               

Hear him: “I wish to inform the showbiz world that we are positioning for the future, with the ultimate aim to ensure that a new Premier Records Limited emerges at the end of the day. We are committed, as a frontline records company, to preserve the cultural heritage of the Nigerian music, despite the influence of foreign music.”

The relatively young man divulged that the company which recently hit 60 years in the business of music production, marketing and management of celebrity acts on their label over the years, was the oldest among their contemporaries in Nigeria, and arguably in West Africa, with the largest music catalogue too.

“The company was established in 1963 as Philips West Africa Records and has over the years done business under names like Phonogram Records, Polygram Records, before choosing the name Premier Records, which happens to be its current name. The company over the years has worked hard to keep the legacy of the Nigerian and African music going without losing focus and value,” he insisted.                          

Odiong stated that they have always pioneered in the music concern, trying frantically to adapt to the emergent changes, embracing the necessary innovations and the attendant creativity, adding that in all these, they have been consistent in keeping to the cultural values of the Nigerian music.                                              

The Premier Records CEO informed that he has a passion for the job, adding: “The company makes sure that all genres from across the country are accommodated. “We have songs from the North, South-West, South East, South-South, or even from Ghana. Our music catalogue represents the vast cultural component of Nigeria.”                  

He further revealed that their decision to encourage the company's present-day artistes to tap from the rich cultural musical catalogue available to them, is to pep them up in creating classics that would be timeless.                                           

“We did this in 2013 when we co-produced ‘Baby Mi Da’ by late Dr Victor Abimbola Olaiya (OON) and 2baba. The original was done by Dr Olaiya and it was titled ‘Mofemuyan’. The remix with 2baba is simply a timeless piece that’s still making waves after 10years and may continue in the years to come. That’s the hallmark of timeless piece or pieces, we are aiming at here tirelessly”, he submitted.