PINNACLE
There is no doubt the talent that exits on the African continent and in the Afro Community around the globe. One of the areas where sure talent abounds is in music. All across Africa, there are thousands if not millions of individuals with exceptional music talents. Unfortunately on the world music scene there are only a few Africans. The situation is so bad that even on the African Continent; we recognize talents from other continents much more than our own.
One of the reasons for this is the continents inability to brand, package and promote such talents well. Unlike other areas of endeavour, music has seen little attention and development. Governments have variously refused to see the sector as one that is critical for tourism and thus generation of funds to support national budget.
It is also a fact that in most African countries there are only a few record labels, most without resources to promote their artiste and music on the international scale.
Recognizing the problem Pro Imagination Unlimited through its subsidiary Prime Target Communications developed “THE PINNACLE PROJECT” intended to promote African Music in Africa for Africans and across the globe. The project has four main facets of promotion, that is:
1. Web
2. Print
3. Radio
4. Television
PROJECT OBJECTIVE
The Objectives of the PINNACLE PROJECT are as follows:
1. Promote African Music and Musicians
2. Put Afro Music on the World Market
3. Inject a sense of professionalism on the African Music Market Scene
4. Help develop the Business aspect in Music Production, Rights, Royalties and other benefits to individuals, groups and companies involved in Music.
5. Promote Music as a developmental tool and key to tourism and an important Economic tool.
6. To Educate Artiste, Music Industry Players and the general public on Music and its impact and benefits to humanity.
7. To provide a platform for talented but needy artistes.
8. To Promote popular African Culture
GHANA AS A TEST CASE
In the late 70’s and 80’s Ghana shot up as one of the forces in music on the African continent and in the World with the introduction of pure authentic Afro music. Additionally there was the development of the Highlife Genre which a combination of Afro Music and Western music. The genre proved to be a great force for other genres. On the back of the genre one of Africa’s best bands ever was produced; OSIBISA.
Unfortunately, the industry has been in a study decline.
The last fifteen years has seen several attempts by various music interest groups, parties and individuals to save the industry. There has been an attempt to save Highlife which has become unattractive to the youth. There has been the introduction of Hiplife, a new genre which combines Rap and Highlife. The Industry is plagued with numerous problems. There are few labels with little or no resources to promote the songs and Artistes they produce in Ghana talk less of the African Continent and the World Stage. There are problems with royalties, organized Piracy, distribution and sales. Thus, though the country abounds in talent, there is little progress.
We believe that with the array of problems faced by the Ghana’s Music Industry it is a good point to start the project. The Country also enjoys peace and political stability.
The project once established in Ghana will be extended to South Africa, Nigeria and to the rest of the Continent.
PINNACLE GHANA
The project has begun earnestly on all four facets. A web site has already been built, a Magazine designed, a pilot TV programme produced and plans for advanced to start an online radio.
- http://www.pinnaclegh.com
- Pinnacle Magazine
- Pinnacle Television
- Online Radio
We have designed a modern and attractive Ghanaian Music Site which carries daily stories on developments in the Ghanaian Music scene and also provides education. The site also has columns dedicated to New Artistes, GH Rap, Diaspora, Gospel, Radio and Television. In the next couple of days columns will be created for Unsigned Hype and Afro Choice.
The site has already received favourable reviews across Ghana and elsewhere. It has become a bay for accessing authentic Ghanaian Music News, Profile of Artiste, Music, Photos, Videos and more. The site has been operational for only three months and without advertisement the site has already seen over 10,000 visitors. On the average 200 – 400 people visit daily.
The site has a Chat Room where Registered Users discuss various topics affecting the industry and also have other social interactions. The site has a SHOP button where we intend to music via SMS in Ghana and through PAYPAL for the rest of the world. Music Videos, Ringtones and Wallpapers will also be on sale. The platform should be operational in the next couple of weeks.
Already one of Ghana’s Biggest Multimedia Companies, Charter House is advertising their Music Reality show, “Stars of the Future” on the site. Native Park Records, a new label is also advertising their artiste on the site.
The site has over 700 hundred fans on it's Face Book page created weeks ago. There are over 200 Registered Users of the site and the site is rated Number 1 in Ghana for its professionalism, layout and Graphics.
PINNACLE MAGAZINE
Pinnacle is set to be a quarterly Music Magazine. The Magazine is intended to Promote Ghanaian Music in Ghana and around the world. The Magazine is to critically analyse the Ghanaian music industry. It will also provide constructive criticisms to help build the industry. The magazine seeks to provide a fair and unbiased platform to Promote Ghanaian Music and Artistes around the globe. It is also intended to Educate Musicians and the general populace on pertinent issues in the industry. The Magazine will also provide Entertainment.
Pinnacle Magazine will have Regular pages, Special Features and Extras. Some of the regular pages are; SPOTLIGHT (Where a new Artiste with a good album is profiled), HOTTEST SENSATION (This page will feature the most popular Artiste at the time of the publication), HIT BOUND, CHART and ALBUM PROFILE.
Some Special Features set to be in the median edition are; a paper on Ghanaian Music and bribery (PAYOLA), a paper on Music and Promiscuity in Ghana, Music and Law and Music Law.
Musicians Association of Ghana (MUSIGA) and Professional Musicians Association of Ghana (PROMAG) will be given a page each for Promotional papers and/or information to their members or members of the public.
Extra features in the first edition will be a Ghana Music Directory; Top 50 all time Ghanaian Music Videos among others.
The first edition will have about 70pages and about 5000 copies will be printed.
SALES & DISTRIBUTION
Pinnacle will be distributed in Ghana, UK and USA. 4000 copies will be distributed in Ghana and 1000 in the UK and USA. The magazine will be on sale in Ghana US and UK. The Magazine will also have advertising pages to boast profit levels while developing the industry. In Ghana, it will be sold in Supermarkets, Refueling/Gas stations and at other vantage points. The Magazine will be available in Airlines and in major Hotels in Ghana.
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Already, an Editorial Board has been constituted. The board is made up of very prominent players in the Ghanaian music industry. Three others will be added to the board. The Editorial Board members are:
- Prof. Anku (Music Lecturer, University of Ghana)
- Abraham Ohene Djan (CEO, OM Studios)
- Zapp Mallet (Sound Engineer)
- Patrice Amegashie (Fmr. Radio Presenter | Director – Media Trust)
- Richmond Adu-Poku (CEO, Prime Target Communications)
- Laurene Addy (Lecturer, National Academy of Film and Television)
PINNACLE TELEVISION
About 70% of the Ghanaian Population does not have internet access. For such people we have designed a Television Concept that will project Ghanaian Music in the right light and also educate the public on issues affecting the industry.
Once every week, we will run a 6 hour broadcast of world class music content back to back. Pinnacle Television will run concurrently on two channels. Programmings within the six hours are as follows:
- 18:00
- In tune with Zapp Mallet
- Playlist
- Making of the Video
- Fresh Hitz
- Cine – melody
- Neighborhood Check
- Cribs
- Music Events
ONLINE RADIO
Most Dj’s in Ghana take money from Artistes to play their music, subsequently they play Music of and from Artistes who are able to pay. Thus the best of Music productions are not necessarily the ones that are play. As part of our campaign to promote authentic Ghanaian music we will start running an online radio station via our website, http://www.pinnaclegh.com.
The Station will run automatically when one logs on to the site. Presently we are running tests on visitor’s response to the automatic play radio. The station will run for 24 hours a day and 7days in a week.
NEXT PHASE OF PINNACLE - GHANA PROJECT
1. ACTIVATE SHOP BUTTON
One of our immediate priorities is to activate the shop button and start sales. In this direction we have started negotiations with Media Edge-gsm; a company that deals in gsm shortcodes and also act as music sales agents on most networks in Ghana. Under the arrangement Media Edge-gsm will provide Short Codes, Pass codes and administrative support for local sales. We have also registered with PAYPAL to conduct international sales.
2. START ONLINE RADIO
Our preliminary test of the auto play radio with an auto play hit bound playlist have proven very successful. According to information we are receiving, there is a section of our visitor’s who visit just because they will be able to listen to authentic Ghanaian music they have not heard before. The average time spent on the site has shot up from 5 minutes to 15 minutes in a matter weeks.
3. PRINT 1st EDITION OF THE MAGAZINE
To ensure that our financial projections are met we will have to print the first edition of the magazine in the last quarter of the year. We have had several visitors of the site making enquires on when the magazine will come out and where they will find copies to buy.
4. PROMOTION OF PROJECT
To increase traffic on the website and whip up public interest and support we have to start promoting the project on the internet, on television, on radio and mobile phones. Already, we have built Television adverts for the site. An advert has also been produced for the Magazine. There are also radio jingles for the site and the magazine. Additionally, we will want to advertise on Face Book as it has become a powerful promotional tool. We will also need to send bulk text messages to specific geographical areas in Ghana.
Lady Nancy Ja...
gal i look jux...
