Trace TV answers to allegations of payola
Trace TV is under fire for requesting payment for video screening.
The debacle started in October 2017 when Nigerian act Dammy Krane expressed his anger towards the station on social media:
“I just want my fans to know the person behind the reason they don’t see my videos on Trace TV, his name is Nosa Omoregie [Trace TV head of operations],” he tweeted. “I’m really gonna be taking things seriously. He collected my money and he still didn’t play the videos. I just got back, my management already sent in ‘Prayer’ video I have been giving him all videos for two years and he has been ignoring them, out of what is called natural hatred.”
This clearly got their attention as he later apologised saying: “Sometimes u expect more from family, the smallest things pain the most. I apologise for coming out that way on Nosa. Video on Trace next week”.
Trace it back…
Unfortunately that wasn’t the end of the misfortune as Dammy Krane attacked the station again in late December 2017.
“God bless all the TV stations supporting, apart from TRACE Naija, @TRACE_inter it’s because of the crazy people you put in charge in Nigeria like “Nosa & Sam” collecting money from artistes… people will stop watching Tracenaija in 2018.”
Trace West Africa’s managing director, Sam Onyemelukwe, issued a response to the allegations.
“Some unscrupulous people have gone so far as to charge unknowing record labels and artists with a fake guarantee that their video will air on Trace.
“We even heard of a guy in Ghana who offers a price list for airplay on Trace and other music channels and shows. We do not sell video spins on the channel and anybody who tells you otherwise is a liar. However, at the same time, we know how much demand is out there, so we offer a promotion package called Zoom that can be purchased and guarantees a short profile and a few clips of an artist’s music video.”
That’s an interesting contradiction, but anyway, Trace TV has asked interested individuals to send emails to the station via nigeria@trace.tv and artists can submit videos to the Trace website.
