The 2025 edition of the Wale Olomu Memorial Awards (WOMA) and Roundtable opened on Saturday, 13 December, with a discussion on the role of entertainment reporting in shaping musical careers.
The roundtable, themed “The Impact of Entertainment Reporting on Musical Careers: Our View,” was broadcast live on TopRadio 90.9 FM and brought together artistes, journalists and media executives to examine the influence of entertainment journalism within Nigeria’s creative sector.
Moderated by WOMA Steering Committee members Tokunbo Ojekunle and Femi Akintunde-Johnson, the session focused on responsibility, ethics and collaboration between the media and artistes.
Singer and media executive Wunmi Obe, speaking from her experience on both sides, said, “he that controls the media, controls the mind,” while urging balance in coverage. She added, “Balanced reporting is key. There are positive things artistes do that are newsworthy, not just scandals.”
Afro soul singer Kayefi Osha warned about the lasting impact of misinformation, noting that, “If you do not tell your story, others will tell it for you and it may not be accurate.” She stressed the need for integrity in storytelling to “pass good influence to the coming generations.”
Aralola Olamuyiwa, popularly known as Ara, highlighted how vulnerable careers have become in the digital era.
“It is so easy for one’s career to go down now. How you are reported determines how your career goes,” she said, calling for restraint and fairness in reporting. She also challenged perceptions around gender, saying that “artistry, not gender, ultimately shapes perception.”
Broadcaster and digital media specialist Jimi Akinniyi said his interest has always been in the work rather than the personality. “I have always been attracted to the work first, not the individual,” he said, while acknowledging that “artistes want to control the narratives about themselves” in today’s media environment.
Cultural writer Jide Taiwo argued that entertainment journalism should be treated with the same seriousness as political reporting.
“We need new business models if entertainment journalism is to command the value it deserves,” he said, adding that the roles played today would form a lasting legacy.
Publisher Olumide Iyanda stressed professional boundaries, stating, “A journalist is not a PR person,” and reminding participants of the ethical responsibility journalists hold in the lives of artistes.
Discussions also covered interview preparedness, media literacy, and lifestyle choices, with participants agreeing that sensationalism and poor narrative management pose risks to artistic longevity.
Attention now shifts to Saturday, 20 December, when the Wale Olomu Memorial Awards ceremony will hold. The event will recognise three Lifetime Achievement recipients and five Special Recognition awardees and will be broadcast live on TopRadio 90.9 FM.
