Obi Asika, Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), has urged upcoming musicians to avoid copying established stars like Wizkid. Speaking at ‘The Next Billion Dollar Sound’ webinar, Asika stressed that the music industry values authenticity over imitation.

He highlighted that most successful artists spend 4–5 years grinding, experimenting, and learning before gaining public recognition, and that failure is part of the journey.

Asika also emphasized the importance of understanding the business side of music—from publishing and distribution to smart collaborations—saying, “If you retain 100% and do nothing, you’re sitting on 100% of nothing.”

Using Asake as an example, he illustrated how combining unique cultural elements can create global appeal, proving that authenticity drives success.