The CULT called Music Industry in Nigeria
Written By Sheba Macby

Glancing at the topic of this article from a far horizon and from a distant megalopolises may arouse different questions in your mind, so to start with, lets get to the definition of cult.

CULT: A cult is a social group with socially deviant or novel beliefs and practices, although this is often unclear.

In the Nigerian music industry, if your father did not die leaving inheritance for you to use and pursue music, if your mother is not an actress that can plead on your behalf, or if as a guy you do not have a female friend who happens to be the girlfriend of a celebrity who can assist, then you have to work extra hard, as those who are known as the creme de la creme of the industry would want you to worship them and serve them for years without even helping you, on air personalities will keep you waiting for 8 hours before they finally ask you ‘how may i help you’,without even offering you a sit.

The Nigerian music industry has become a cult that if you do not belong to this cartel or that cartel, you can’t benefit from it. They only allow you to perform on their stage if you are their loyal errand boy, and if you are female worse for you because all of them would want to deposit some semen in your ‘honey pot’ before they can give you the mic.

The ‘big’ boys have made the Nigerian Music Industry a game of money. If you are not a Davido or a Wizkid, no one is willing to give you audience, they won’t even let you open for them on their tours or shows, on air personalities will be charging you N500, 000 to play your song on one radio station, without the guarantee of you getting the value that you are actually looking for, same with the DJs.

If your father is not Dangote, if you are not a yahoo boy, or if you don’t have a sponsor then they will tell you to give up on your God given dream. Recently, Don jazzy posted a tweet that didn’t go down well with most up and coming acts.

Donjazzy tweeted and i quote "@Donjazzy :I think what our industry needs now is more song writers. We have too many artists as it is”.

Someone said this ‘tweet is from a biased mind!’

They don’t not want more artistes to come and compete with them, that’s why they will not tell the younger ones what they are doing to succeed and that’s why they also won’t let you in, but guess what, the beautiful ones are not yet born!

The sky is so big that their will always be space to accommodate new acts who bring in their A game!

The Nigerian music industry is like a wild forest, its a dog eat dog situation, most celebrities will even follow you on Instagram, only for them to steal your concept and there is nothing you can do about it, as they have the fanbase, you do not.

Brands are not even willing to identify with your ‘virgin’ brand and sponsor your event or music project because they feel it is too much of a risk, and you do not have the fanbase…

Many have given up, many are still striving and thriving.

Over the years, we have seen few artistes that have stood against the norm, one of which is Brymo who was signed to Chocolate city, had a court case with the label and broke free, it took him time to recuperate, but since then, he has been able to proof that an artiste can be as good without a label.
In granting interviews he has also gone against the custom to reveal certain things that the ‘big’ boys wont tell.


Brant Faiyaz is another artiste, (although not Nigerian) that went against the odds, and decided to promote his music with his manager TY using the internet.
Thank God the INTERNET!
If not for he internet i would have said no hope for those who do not have sponsors and do not come from wealthy homes to pursue their music career, but guess what, even with the internet, as and up and coming act, you need to have a budget to run ads that can get your content to your target audience.

Meaning if you do not have money at all, you are somewhat stock, which is exactly why i want to teach you how you can make $900 -$1,500 which is approximately n300,000 - n500,000 monthly from your songs whether or not you are popular. What am going to be teaching you is 1000% guaranteed.

For more info, visit https://www.shebaentertainment.com/sheba/Entertain/service.php?id=33

smart work