Broadcast live on TopRadio 90.9 FM, the Roundtable was themed “The Impact of Entertainment Reporting on Musical Careers: Our View.” It brought together a cross-section of artistes, journalists, and media executives to interrogate the power and responsibility of entertainment reporting within Nigeria’s fast-growing creative economy.
Shared Responsibility Between Media and Artistes
Moderated by veteran media practitioners and WOMA Steering Committee members, Tokunbo Ojekunle and Femi Akintunde-Johnson, the session stressed the importance of balance and accountability on both sides of the media-artiste relationship. Panelists agreed that while the media plays a central role in amplifying visibility, artistes also bear responsibility for how their stories are framed and sustained.
Discussions highlighted the need for ethical reporting that goes beyond sensationalism, while also encouraging artistes to engage the media strategically and transparently.
Calls for Balanced and Purposeful Reporting
Multi-award-winning singer and media executive, Wunmi Obe, spoke from her unique position straddling both the creative and media spaces. She cautioned that influence, particularly in journalism, must be exercised with restraint and purpose. According to her, a collaborative relationship between artistes and the press is essential for building a healthier creative ecosystem.
Obe underscored the power of media narratives, noting that while controversies often dominate headlines, there are numerous positive contributions by artistes that also deserve attention and coverage.
Ownership of Narrative and Integrity
Afro-soul singer, Kayefi Osha, focused on the long-term implications of misinformation and misrepresentation in entertainment reporting. She urged artistes to be intentional about telling their own stories, warning that silence often allows inaccurate narratives to take root.
She further emphasised the role of integrity in storytelling, noting that the values embedded in media narratives have implications not only for individual careers but also for the messages passed on to future generations.
Careers in the Digital Spotlight
Renowned performer and cultural ambassador, Aralola Olamuyiwa, popularly known as Ara, drew attention to the vulnerability of artistic careers in the digital era. She observed that with the speed at which information spreads online, a single report—positive or negative—can significantly alter an artiste’s professional trajectory.
Ara called for greater restraint and fairness in entertainment journalism, stressing that balanced reportage is essential in an age where reputations can be reshaped almost instantly. Addressing perceptions of gender bias, she maintained that consistency and artistic excellence ultimately define how artistes are viewed by the public.
Setting the Tone for WOMA 2025
The Roundtable set a reflective tone for the 2025 Wale Olomu Memorial Awards, reinforcing the event’s commitment to honouring excellence while encouraging critical dialogue within Nigeria’s entertainment and media industries. As conversations continue throughout the programme, stakeholders are expected to further examine how responsible storytelling can support sustainable careers and strengthen the creative sector.