What’s the agenda of Tadi Entertainment Review Shows for Creative Arts or it is Accra stories as usual?

• Posted on May 13, 2021May 13, 2021
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

From as early as 10am on Saturdays to as late as 6pm, the media space in Sekondi-Takoradi (a City with radio as main medium of reach) is dominated by issues of Creative Arts as every radio station dedicate hours to discuss issues in the sector.

From Connect FM which has the earliest shot at Entertainment Review Programme on Fridays to ROK FM which is the entertainment alarm on Saturdays to YFM and Radio Shama which take the baton and Empire and Spice FMs which precede Skyy Power FM’s ‘OC Showbiz Review’ which ends the day, same topics are discussed throughout, like there was a rehearsal for a chorus programme at the Western Regional Coordinating Council.

All radio stations empanel players from the Creative Arts to dissect the issues that made headlines within the week. Most of them to their best of ability critique the issues but anyone who follows all the stations on Saturdays will think “I am listening to same topics with different panel members.”

Unfortunately, the issues discussed have more of happenings in Accra and very few or non-existing Western based agenda. As though topics with Accra stars as protagonists excite some of the Hosts, spicing them with a Western agenda would have catapulted the industry an inch further.

Granted, the Accra based stars make more news than the local ones so if a Producer is waiting for the indigenous stars to make headlines, they might wait for long.

Cleverly, some of the entertainment shows have ‘Agenda’ as segment. This is to dedicate some reasonable amount of time to review the sector in the Metropolis and the Region as a whole. Such programmes should be commended for the effort.

Even though commendable, like how perishable radio air time is, those agendas end immediately the host signs off. Why is it an agenda then if it is without any tangible results?

The recent comparison of Kumerican Artistes with other Regions has become necessary since the Kumericans appear to have turned what was intended to be mockery into glory. Yaw Tog and his contemporaries became beneficiaries. There must have been some brains that masterminded that, obviously.

The name calling and fast response to label one ‘Team Move,’ ‘Team Ayesem,’ ‘Team what what’ makes those who want to address this issue careful in opening their mouth, a measured reaction akin to a politician addressing the public for the first time on radio.

Like the sizes of umbrellas of monarchs in Ghana, there would obviously be people with greater influence than others and entertainment review programmes with wider reach than others. Like the strategy of United States of America’s (USA) media to project talents, a medium can boldly mention that they are dedicated to promoting a particular Artiste or a medium can be publicly known to be an ardent supporter of a political party.

What stops a Presenter from adopting a talent and using the experiences and network to further project that talent? Or you want an example? Dr. Duncan whilst as a Presenter on Adom FM adopted Sarkodie and even managed and dedicated a lot to drumming into every home the brand Sarkodie. The result is public knowledge.

How about a Presenter with Public Relations skills and training take on an Artiste and help grow the brand?

The Center for National Culture (CNC) has become a white elephant in the Metropolis. Which entertainment review show after discussing it on air has followed it to the latter to petition authorities? As at now, the CNC remains the only viable venue for the regional capital. Should VGMA have plans of taking the biggest awards ceremony regional every year, which venue in Takoradi can host it?

Like how Accra media had an agenda to push Mark Okraku Mantey for the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, has there been any agenda for any Western Regional person for even MUSIGA or GHAMRO National Chairman or CEO before? What is really the interest of these review shows if it is talk shop as usual?

As an industry player in the region, I point the first finger to myself before any other.

I shall return!

Author: Nana Kwesi Coomson (www.233times.net) @nkcoomson on Twitter/Instagram