Why musical artistes must take responsibility for poor sound at concerts — Peter David

Poor sound quality at live concerts is often blamed on sound engineers or equipment providers, but music production expert Peter Sunday David said the ultimate responsibility lies with artistes and their management teams.

According to David Peter Sunday, who has handled over 2,000 professional live events across concerts and orchestral productions and has also served as a band leader for Nigerian superstar Tekno from 2016 to date, audiences interact solely with performers and are largely unaware of the technical chain behind a show. As a result, accountability naturally falls on the artiste’s camp.

“The audience does not know the sound supplier or the engineer. They only know the artiste,” David said. “It is therefore the responsibility of the artiste and their management to engage competent professionals and supervise the entire technical process before, during, and after performances.”

He noted that many sound-related failures at live events are rooted in poor preparation rather than technical limitations.

According to him, event organisers and artistes often prioritise cost over competence, opting for cheaper technical teams without proper vetting or planning.

“Poor preparation remains the biggest issue,” he said. “Many organisers fail to assemble the right technical team or carry out proper planning, projections, and post-event reviews. Settling for the cheapest option instead of the best frequently compromises quality.”

David also challenged the growing belief that acquiring expensive equipment automatically guarantees superior sound. He explained that sound system design plays a far more critical role in determining output quality.

“Equipment alone does not guarantee quality,” he said. “Sound system design requires technical understanding, planning, and creativity. Without proper system integration and acoustic planning, even the most expensive equipment will underperform.”

He added that many production companies invest heavily in branded gear without sufficient knowledge of how to deploy it effectively, resulting in distorted sound, poor balance, and unsatisfactory audience experiences.