The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) releases an annual report that provides a comprehensive state of the global recorded music industry, which includes data and analysis. However, historically, Africa has not appeared on the radar of this report. In 2016, it did. IFPI gave a nod to the recorded music market in Africa, but in a few …
Yemi Alade Teams up with Rick Ross for “Oh My Gosh!” Remix But are his Wine & Rum Product Placements too Much?
Yemi Alade teamed up with Rick Ross for a remix of her hit single “Oh My Gosh.” The newly released music video is well shot and the visuals are beautiful, with rich textures that showcase Africa’s creativity, especially that of its fashion industry. The pairing, however, seems quite odd and what stands out, even more, is the glaring product placements …
Davido’s Performance at Idris Elba’s Wedding Over the Weekend Shows how Far Nigerian & Afrobeats Music has Come
Once upon a time, it didn’t matter whether you were an American or British celebrity (even of African heritage). During your wedding, if you decided to hire a performer to serenade your bride, you most likely were not looking to hire an African artist. You often and most likely opted for an American musician. In 2019, we have seen the …
Warner Music Group Signs Partnership Deal with Nigeria’s Chocolate City – What it Really Means
Last week Thursday, Warner Music Group and Nigeria’s Chocolate City Record Label announced an “innovative (partnership) deal”. You can read the press statement below but before you do, here are my thoughts on the deal: 1. Nigeria’s music industry has been open for business for a long time, and this partnership deal reaffirms the obvious. As I have said before, …
Waje says she is tired and ready to quit music, but has she really done enough to make her tired?
Nigerian R&B singer Waje recently released a short reality tv styled documentary where she declared that she is “tired,” and ready to quit music. She explains that she has invested her monies in the music industry but is yet to see a true return on her investment. The video has since gone viral, and many have questioned and even blamed …