Encomium
President, Smooth Productions and Hiphop World head honcho, Ayo Animashaun is the brain behind the yearly prestigious Headies Award, which has been running for eight years now. The dark, young and restless entrepreneur spoke to ENCOMIUM Weekly about the success of 2013 Headies Award and how he is too busy to be distracted by critics and much more…
Congratulations on the success of Headies 2013?
Thank you very much!
What was the most difficult part of the award?
It was the 8th edition of the award, and when you have done something for eight times, it becomes less stressful. We were not involved in the production of the awards. We handed it over to a PR company. We did not want to be distracted because we are settling our channel. We did not want to be distracted, so we gave the production to a PR company.
Were you able to achieve what you planned for the awards?
Since we started the awards, we have not done what we actually set out to do. We have made progress and sometimes we cut more than 50 percent of the plan. The most important thing is, we had the award, it was successful and people attended. They had fun and it went well. I have not put together the kind of award that is in my head, it’s not yet done.
What were the lapses people complained about and what are you going to do about them in subsequent editions?
It is not about what people complain about, it’s about how we see or view things. Some people’s complaints are not just valid. You know what you want and what you stand for. However, it is not that we don’t put people’s opinion into consideration. We like feedbacks, but it is not all the time you respond to opinions that is not relevant.
Others join us, maybe people will appreciate what we are doing more. The artistes they are talking about is not the only one in question. When he won, some people did not win. When Wizkid won Next Rated, Ice Prince, Olamide, Tiwa Savage were all in that category. Ask him who did he give anything to?
After he won Artistes of the Year in 2012, who did he meet? Who promised him anything?
How much did it cost you to stage the Headies Awards?
How is that supposed to be of public interest?
What innovations are you planning to inject into subsequent ones?
If you were at the last Headies you would have seen innovation and we are implementing more.
Why was MTN not the major sponsor of 2013 Headies Awards?
MTN and Hiphop World are cool, plans changed, they are still part of the awards. They were not just the major sponsors.
Some people criticized the way the awards went?
I don’t like to add my words to what is not valid or baseless. It is just a waste of time. Some people do not think before they talk. In the first instance, MTN was not the major sponsor. You saw Airtel everywhere. Olamide that won the biggest awards that night is an Etisalat ambassador. When people’s argument is baseless, I don’t join issues with them. I just look and laugh.
Many were surprised that Wizkid didn’t win at all?
People don’t really do their home work, they just talk. Wizkid’s Jaiye Jaiye came in August and the year in review stopped in July. How is it supposed to qualify? The year in review started March 2012 to June 2013. At the period Jaiye Jaiye was not out. We were too busy to be distracted by any critic.
Some people can talk and we are not the only people that started this journey.
THE HEADIES AWARDS 2013 FULL WINNERS LIST
Best Recording of the Year: Jaywon, This Year
Producer of the Year: D’Tunes, Shoo Lee
Best RnB Single: Banky W, Good Good Loving
Best Reggae Dancehall: Waje, I Wish
Revelation of the Year: Davido, OBO
Best RnP/Pop Album: Davido, OBO
Best Alternative: Blackmagic, Repete
Best Rap Album: Olamide, YBNL
Best Street Hop: Olamide, Durosoke
Album of the Year: Olamide, YBNL
Best Pop Single: Phyno, Man of the Year
Best Collabo: Phyno and Olamide, Ghostmode
Next Rated: Sean Tizzle
Artiste of the Year: Iyanya
Best Vocal Performance (female): Nikky Laoye, Only You
Best Vocal Performance (male): Praiz, Rich and Famous
Lyricist of the Year: Modenine, Never Let It Go
Best Pop Single: 2Face Idibia, Ihe Neme
Best Music Video: Clarence Peters/Jude Engee, Alingo
Most Download MTN Callertune song: Harrysong, Mandela
Song of the Year: KCee, Limpopo
