Who
says musicians don’t make good business men? That is a big lie because
there are a few of them who have well and are still doing well in
business.
says musicians don’t make good business men? That is a big lie because
there are a few of them who have well and are still doing well in
business.
Yinka Ayefele is one of
them. Not many people know that this talented act sits atop a
flourishing business empire. He owns a hotels in Ibadan called Downtown
Hotel. He owns a radio station called Fresh FM which recently turned 1.
He owns a music production company that produces jingles, voice overs
and adverts. He owns a full fledge band and all these represents for him
a multiple stream of income. So that keeps him busy and that makes him
truly successful.
them. Not many people know that this talented act sits atop a
flourishing business empire. He owns a hotels in Ibadan called Downtown
Hotel. He owns a radio station called Fresh FM which recently turned 1.
He owns a music production company that produces jingles, voice overs
and adverts. He owns a full fledge band and all these represents for him
a multiple stream of income. So that keeps him busy and that makes him
truly successful.
Recently, City People
Publisher SEYE KEHINDE spent some time with him at his Ibadan radio
station where he spoke about not only his life as a radio presenter. “I
started from Radio and I am back to Radio,” he told City People. “I
have evolved over time and I am today back to the profession I started
with at FRCN Ibadan. “Now, he has his own radio station and he currently
presents 2 popular programmes.
Publisher SEYE KEHINDE spent some time with him at his Ibadan radio
station where he spoke about not only his life as a radio presenter. “I
started from Radio and I am back to Radio,” he told City People. “I
have evolved over time and I am today back to the profession I started
with at FRCN Ibadan. “Now, he has his own radio station and he currently
presents 2 popular programmes.
Congrats on your radio station, Fresh FM. How has it been?
It has not been so easy. We just
started, and we have to put a lot of things in place, to make it work
the way it supposed to be. Our watch word here is Professionalism
Nutured By Experience. So not just doing it the way they are doing it
now. We want to do it the way it should be done.
started, and we have to put a lot of things in place, to make it work
the way it supposed to be. Our watch word here is Professionalism
Nutured By Experience. So not just doing it the way they are doing it
now. We want to do it the way it should be done.
But like you know it is always difficult
to enforce change. It is difficult to change a lot of thing especially
the OAP’s that are used to the modern day presentation. We need to put a
lot of things in place to make sure they get it right.
to enforce change. It is difficult to change a lot of thing especially
the OAP’s that are used to the modern day presentation. We need to put a
lot of things in place to make sure they get it right.
What is the concept that you have for fresh FM?
It’s a simple one. I just want to change
the face of broadcasting, not only in Oyo State but in Ibadan. I also
want to make sure that I reach out to Nigerians in the diaspora.
the face of broadcasting, not only in Oyo State but in Ibadan. I also
want to make sure that I reach out to Nigerians in the diaspora.
I want to give them the content which
they enjoyed when they were at home to let them feel what they use to
feel when they were at home.
they enjoyed when they were at home to let them feel what they use to
feel when they were at home.
I also want to reach out to the
immediate community, immediate listeners here at home in this area. I
want to give them good programming that will be educative and
entertaining.
immediate community, immediate listeners here at home in this area. I
want to give them good programming that will be educative and
entertaining.
What is the reach of Fresh FM?
NBC has rules. You can’t go beyond your
city. They call stations like ours City based stations. They don’t
expect us to go beyond Ibadan. So, our transmitter should not go beyond
Ibadan or at most the environs. But internationally, I will tell you we
have the largest listeners on the internet. We stream our life
transmission as well. We have the highest listeners on-line as far as
Nigerian radio is concerned.
city. They call stations like ours City based stations. They don’t
expect us to go beyond Ibadan. So, our transmitter should not go beyond
Ibadan or at most the environs. But internationally, I will tell you we
have the largest listeners on the internet. We stream our life
transmission as well. We have the highest listeners on-line as far as
Nigerian radio is concerned.
In terms of content what stands Fresh FM out?
Our content is different from that of
other stations. Its different from the usual of broadcasting, especially
in Ibadan. We have Morning Belt called Freshly Pressed. We have
Afternoon Belt called Mid Day Café then, we have Evening Belt called
Road Drive. We have different OAP’s that handle cash segment. We have
other programmes that are catchy, that you will want to listen too. It
will make you stay glued to the station.
other stations. Its different from the usual of broadcasting, especially
in Ibadan. We have Morning Belt called Freshly Pressed. We have
Afternoon Belt called Mid Day Café then, we have Evening Belt called
Road Drive. We have different OAP’s that handle cash segment. We have
other programmes that are catchy, that you will want to listen too. It
will make you stay glued to the station.
Can one say that your interest in setting up a radio station is because of your having worked in radio years back?
Its more of the reason for having a
radio station. I have a passion for broadcasting. I was a broadcaster
and I am still a broadcaster. I still present programmes on radio. I
have my programmes on radio.
radio station. I have a passion for broadcasting. I was a broadcaster
and I am still a broadcaster. I still present programmes on radio. I
have my programmes on radio.
I do Lets Talk About It every Tuesday
and I do Opeyemi on Sunday mornings. I still have my programmes on radio
and I co-ordinate everything that goes on here.
and I do Opeyemi on Sunday mornings. I still have my programmes on radio
and I co-ordinate everything that goes on here.
I will say it because of my experience and my passion that I have for broadcasting.
How did you get into Broadcasting?
I joined FRCN Ibadan (National Station)
in 1989 as a freelance Commercial Assistant then. In 1989-90 I started
as their yearly father Xmas. Later I graduated to presenting request
programmes on Sunday afternoons, later I began to present early morning
chit-chat programmes. On Wednesdays.
in 1989 as a freelance Commercial Assistant then. In 1989-90 I started
as their yearly father Xmas. Later I graduated to presenting request
programmes on Sunday afternoons, later I began to present early morning
chit-chat programmes. On Wednesdays.
That was how I joined FRCN Ibadan National Station and it was there I started my broadcast career.
At what point did you join OGBC?
That was after I left Radio Nigeria.
After I left I started freelancing with different radio stations. I
worked in OGBC, OSRC, BSES (Voice Of Ekiti) and other radio stations. I
was doing different programmes. I had Ayefele on FM on Ekiti radio. Even
after my accident I still presented my programme. They were different
programmes.
After I left I started freelancing with different radio stations. I
worked in OGBC, OSRC, BSES (Voice Of Ekiti) and other radio stations. I
was doing different programmes. I had Ayefele on FM on Ekiti radio. Even
after my accident I still presented my programme. They were different
programmes.
Then, I do co-produce Iriri Aiye with
the late Kola Olawuyi. I produce virtually all the jingles that go on
his programme and the musical tunes he used on his program then.
the late Kola Olawuyi. I produce virtually all the jingles that go on
his programme and the musical tunes he used on his program then.
Then I produce musical tunes for radio
programmes as well, for news, for different programmes as well. That is
what made me stand out then. I did jingles for products then.
programmes as well, for news, for different programmes as well. That is
what made me stand out then. I did jingles for products then.
At what point did you now go fully into music and left radio?
It was after the accident. I never knew
music was eventually going to be my profession. I love broadcasting and
that is why I have put a lot together to make sure that I show my love
for broadcasting.
music was eventually going to be my profession. I love broadcasting and
that is why I have put a lot together to make sure that I show my love
for broadcasting.
It was after my accident that I
discovered the talent that I have in music. And then the acceptance
after my 1st album Bitter Experience.
discovered the talent that I have in music. And then the acceptance
after my 1st album Bitter Experience.
Although all along I have been
producing music. I had been a Guitarist I played for other musicians. I
played for Wale Thompson, Toye Ajagun, Oga Micho Ade. I was like their
guitarist then. I joined that with my broadcast job.
producing music. I had been a Guitarist I played for other musicians. I
played for Wale Thompson, Toye Ajagun, Oga Micho Ade. I was like their
guitarist then. I joined that with my broadcast job.
It was after my accident that I was
trying to raise some funds and trying to put some things together to go
for further treatment abroad that I saw the acceptance of the first
album.
trying to raise some funds and trying to put some things together to go
for further treatment abroad that I saw the acceptance of the first
album.
The acceptance emerged me to go more
into the next level of music. It was later I discovered that I earned
more money in music then broadcasting.
into the next level of music. It was later I discovered that I earned
more money in music then broadcasting.
At a point, I concentrated more on music. That was when I formed my band, after my accident.
All along I have been a Church band
leader. I was with the Assemblies of God Church, Message Of The Time
band at NTC Road, Oke Ado here. I did one Cassette, album for them then
titled NIGERIA Is For Jesus.
leader. I was with the Assemblies of God Church, Message Of The Time
band at NTC Road, Oke Ado here. I did one Cassette, album for them then
titled NIGERIA Is For Jesus.
I will say that was my 1st album. That was in 1987. That was my 1st cassette. It was recorded by Here & There then.