Wizkid, Nigerian superstar singer, on Saturday, posted a bullish tweet that has got many doing a double take.
The ‘Ojuelegba’ singer says he is booked for the next three years, which essentially means he has performance engagement booked up until 2021.
His lack of specificity leaves room for multiple interpretations, but his standing as Nigeria’s top artiste makes him perhaps the only artiste who can make such a bold claim.
Wizkid’s career has been on an ascent since his ‘Superstar’ album, making impressive strides at home and around the world.
In the last three years, his stock has grown so big while his plate has become fuller, however, is it possible to have your calendar booked three years in advance?
“Booked for three years,” the ‘Soco’ singer tweeted.
Booked for 3 years 💯🦅❤️
Advertisement— Wizkid (@wizkidayo) June 30, 2018
‘VERY POSSIBLE’
Femi Salawu, a music industry and PR expert, says it is “very possible” for the singer to be booked for that long.
He described Wizkid as “the most sought-after entity in music from this side of the divide. So yes, it is a possibility that he is ‘booked’ for as far as quoted but I do not know about being ‘fully booked'”.
“Also note that Wizkid is Africa’s biggest artist at the moment,” Salawu told TheCable Lifestyle.
A talent manager who asked to remain anonymous agreed with Salawu’s stance, saying, “It’s possible to have loose bookings three years ahead.
“There are tours that happen over that long a span. That doesn’t mean he won’t be available for the next years.
“If he’s signed to Pepsi for three years, for instance, he could get paid for three advance, not at the same time.
“It might be like 20 shows a year.”
WIZKID ‘NOT WORLD CUP’
But Emeka Nwankwo, a culture writer, opts for cautiousness, saying the singer’s claim is doubtful.
He said Wizkid’s relevance for the next three years is not guaranteed.
“The music industry isn’t static. It changes so fast and no one can predict the direction. I mean everyone knows this,” Nwankwo told TheCable Lifestyle.
“By 2015, no one would have thought that pon pon sound would change the game. Or that an Adekunle Gold would gain mainstream fame.
“Promoters and event managers know this. Who is to say that Wizkid would be relevant next year or the next? Perhaps some foreign festival booked him for 2021 or something. But I highly, highly doubt that. It’s not World Cup that will always be a hit/relevant.”
Like Salawu, entertainment PR consultant Adebayo Emeluomo harps on the difference between “booked” and “fully booked”, a line Wizkid was careful not to cross in his tweet.
“He can’t be fully booked till 2021. Probably he’s been getting bookings to perform in 2021 but he can’t be fully booked. So yeah he’s booked but not fully booked till then,” Emuleomo said.
“There’ll still be space for other bookings.”
In May, the Starboy sold out a concert at London’s 20,000-capacity O2 Arena.
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