The business of broadcasting started and did thrive in the hands of real masters of the game. It was practised, loved and cherished. Infact, legacies were created and lovers of radio had so many amazing memories to hold on to. History will forever be kind to the likes of Yemi Farounbi, Adebayo Faleti, Anike Agbaje Williams, Yanju Adegbite, Ade Adekambi, Kunle Olasope, Sanya Oyinsan, Dotun Oyelade, Olalomi Amole, Kola Olawuyi, Bolatito Joseph, Toba Opaleye, and so many fine professionals that defined the broadcast business over the years in the city.
Like every human arrangement, it is just natural for these amazing radio lords to pass the baton to another generation for the cycle to go on and on.
As beautiful as one would have expected that the legacies of our heroes past will be preserved, the present generation of broadcasters in the brown roof city have turned the broadcast business to another thing entirely.
From radio stations populated by empty brains whose trademark is bad and wrong pronunciations, to having to cope with puerile presentation, to recreating street psyche on radio thereby turning so called professionals to a semblance of street Fuji enthusiasts(apologies to lovers of that genre of music) have all dwarfed the amazing works of rising stars and true professionals in the city who should have been allowed to beam the light all the way.
Radio monikers that used to be creatively and beautifully adopted have now become slangs that should have been left in the realm of street urchins. Who are these ones? Where are they coming from? Is this how it is done? Radio has now become a comfortable platform to throw negative banters at perceived enemies. Broadcasters now draw battle lines on live radio. Indecent songs now dominate the airwaves without paying attention to the flag of caution. People who should still be learning the ropes of the job are now saddled with managerial tasks of critical areas of operations of radio stations. Worse still, media owners even throw subtle shades at one another on radio making the environment quite toxic.
Where are our fathers? Where are our mothers? This house is about to crumble!!! Unfortunately, some true professionals are beginning to lower their standards since it seems the street acceptability will bring quick cash. If this trend continues, what legacies will be passed to the next generation?
Moving round the entire states in the South West, it is safe to conclude that the preponderance of these meddlesome interlopers in the broadcast industry is too prominent in Ibadan to be ignored and poses a great danger to the industry such that if nothing is done so urgently, the “house” that was built in Ibadan will collapse in Ibadan.
Broadcasting is NOT an industry for thugs but serious business for professionals.
Adeolu Gboyega is the Group Chief Operating Officer of Cresthills Media Group Ltd.