Entertainment of Saturday, 6 March 2021

Source: Doreen Avio, Contributor

Take the marketing of your music videos very seriously - Rex admonishes artistes

Rexford Kyei Sarkodie seated with Doreen Avio Rexford Kyei Sarkodie seated with Doreen Avio

Music video director Rexford Kyei Sarkodie, known in show business as Rex has advised musicians to take the marketing of their music videos very seriously to get the necessary attention.

Speaking with Doreen Avio, the video producer and filmmaker said marketing of music videos is not only going to help the artiste but the industry which they found themselves in.

“I think it is marketing. I’m going to plead with every artiste manager or record label that we should take the marketing of our music and musical videos very seriously because once we are able to do that, we can grow," he said.

According to Rex, this is one of the methods their colleagues in the Nigerian music industry do to get a lot of views on their music videos.

“There are certain videos I see online and be like 'this is a very good music video', but you watch the views and it has like 10,000 or 20,000 views; meanwhile our counterparts in Nigeria are clocking millions of views and all that. We need people to figure out what is supposed to be done so that we can market our music videos. I as a director, let’s say you put all your energy into a music video and is just like 5,000 views, you are not going to be motivated because you want the world to see your work and appreciate your craft.

The video producer and filmmaker also agreed that artistes now understand what goes into music videos; that is, creativity, and are ready to invest attitude.

“it is getting better. Right now, the world is evolving so they are beginning to understand creatives and what goes into our work. Sometimes, people do not understand why they even need to pay a music video for a certain amount like it’s just three minutes, but now they understand that craft and if you want the craft to be presented well, it means that every aspect of the craft, attention should be paid to it. Even though it has not gotten to the point where our artistes are spending like thousands of dollars on music videos, but it is getting better," he said.

Rex has also worked with major acts such as Shatta Wale, StoneBwoy, Seyi Shay, Mayorkun, Davido, and Ruff N Smooth among others.

Working with Lynx artiste, Rex directed videos for several hit songs such as Open Gate by Kuame Eugene, Ohemaa by Kuame Eugene which features his label mate Kidi as well as songs on the latter’s new EP titled Blue.

Rex in 2019 made Ghana proud on the international scene by becoming the only Ghanaian to have been nominated for the 2019 edition of AFRIMA in the category of Best Africa Video.