Entertainment
Nigerian artistes earned N25bn in 2023 from streaming – Spotify
Spotify, a global online music streaming platform, said it paid more than N25 billion to Nigerian artists as royalties in 2023.
Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify’s Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, said this was double what was recorded in 2022, with a 2,500 per cent increase since 2017.
Muhutu-Remy said these details were contained in Spotify’s recently launched annual report “Loud &Clear”.
She said the report was meant to increase transparency in the music industry by sharing data on Spotify’s royalty payments and breaking down the global streaming economy, the players and the process
She further revealed that the number of Nigerian artistes earning over N10m in royalties has quadrupled since 2018.
According to her, over half of these royalties went to independent artistes or labels, showcasing the democratising power of streaming.
“Spotify listeners discovered Nigerian artistes nearly 950 million times in 2023 and Nigerian artistes own over 80 per cent of the tracks featured on Nigeria’s daily top 50 chart in 2023.
“Over 1,400 Nigerian artistes added to Spotify’s editorial playlists in 2023.
“The significant growth in royalties earned by Nigerian artistes on our platform is a powerful testament to their talent, creativity and global appeal.
“We are proud to amplify their voices and fuel the Nigerian music revolution.
“As a leader in the streaming economy, we are committed to supporting African creators to make a living from their art and we’ll continue to invest further in African artists to ensure this momentum continues,” she said.
Muhutu-Remy noted that while Afrobeats remained king, Nigeria’s music scene was experiencing a genre revolution as Spotify data revealed an increase in popularity across local genres.
She said homegrown genres like Highlife have experienced a significant increase in listenership in the last 12 months by 224 per cent, Igbo Pop by 303 per cent, and Fuji by 187 per cent.
She noted that Highlife, Fuji and Igbo Pop also saw listenership increase in Q1 2024, growing by 240 per cent, 175 per cent, and 270 per cent respectively compared to Q1 2023.
According to her, top artistes remained Fuji King K1 De Ultimate on top, while Highlife finds new life with Umu Obiligbo‘s energy and Phyno for Igbo Pop.
“For top tracks, Fuji gets a fresh spin with Adewale Ayuba’s Koloba Koloba, Highlife goes nostalgic with Chief Osita Osadebe’s Nwanem Ebezina and Igbo Pop gets a vibrant boost with KCee’s Ojapiano.
“Men dominate listeners of local music genres like Fuji (85 per cent), Highlife (89 per cent) and Igbo Pop (81 per cent).
“However, Gen Z, aged 18 to 24 is the leading age group across all the three genres, making up 32 per cent of Fuji listeners, 31 per cent of Highlife listeners, and 46 per cent of Igbo Pop listeners.
“Interestingly, cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Katsina all top the charts for streaming these local genres – Fuji, Highlife, and Igbo Pop.
“The top 5 exported music genres from Nigeria are Afrobeats, Nigerian Pop, Afropop, Nigerian Hip Hop and Afro Rhymes and Blues,” she said.
Joseph Aloba, father of late singer Mohbad, reveals his life improved significantly after his son’s passing, attributing it to divine help
Joseph Aloba, the father of late Nigerian singer Mohbad, has shared how his life has seen a remarkable improvement since the tragic passing of his son in September last year.
Speaking in an interview with media personality Akin Abolade, Aloba expressed gratitude for the unexpected blessings he has received, which he credits to the combined influence of Mohbad’s spirit and God.
In the emotional interview, Aloba revealed that Mohbad had made significant plans to support him, but these ambitions remained unfulfilled due to unforeseen circumstances before the singer’s untimely death.
However, he stated that since Mohbad’s passing, he has experienced an outpouring of support from well-wishers who have provided him with essential items, including a car.
“Let me just say yes, my life got better after Mohbad’s death because he is my friend. He had it in plan to do many things for me, but they didn’t allow him to do them,” Aloba explained.
“After his death, it was the spirit of Mohbad, and that of God combined together that began to send people to assist me. Even the car and everything I have now, it was people that gave them to me, and it is beyond ordinary.”
Reflecting further, Aloba noted that the assistance he now receives mirrors the intentions his son had for him. He added, “Those were the things he was meant to be doing for me, but they didn’t allow him to do them.”
The late Mohbad, born Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, passed away under mysterious circumstances in September 2024, leaving fans and the Nigerian music industry in mourning. Investigations into the cause of his death remain ongoing, with many still seeking answers.
Nigerian superstar Davido sends a powerful message to his critics, reaffirming his commitment to success despite ongoing attacks from industry colleagues. His social media post inspires fans to stay resilient
Nigerian music superstar, Davido, has shared a determined message with his critics, reaffirming his unyielding pursuit of success despite months of scathing attacks from some of his colleagues.
The message, posted on his social media on Tuesday night, read: “What the enemy wants you to do is stop … KEEP GOING!” This succinct declaration shows Davido’s commitment to focus on his success and let his achievements silence his detractors.
The post has attracted over 400,000 views, with many fans praising his resilience. One fan, Damilola, shared a comparison to football legend Cristiano Ronaldo, noting that despite Ronaldo’s success, critics still undermine him, just as some do to Davido after years of dominance in the African music scene and success internationally.
Other fans, such as Babangida, lauded Davido’s achievements, asserting that he is “the greatest of all time.”
In the wake of recent criticisms, Davido’s message encourages perseverance, echoing the importance of pushing forward despite challenges.
His supporters continue to express their admiration, rallying behind his journey and urging him to keep striving for greatness.
Entertainment
Verydarkman alls for DNA test amid controversy involving Cubana Chief Priest’s alleged Kenyan baby mama
Activist Verydarkman suggests Cubana Chief Priest undergo a DNA test to settle the paternity controversy sparked by his alleged Kenyan baby mama.
Popular Nigerian activist, Verydarkman, has called on socialite and businessman Cubana Chief Priest to undergo a DNA test to resolve the ongoing controversy surrounding his alleged Kenyan baby mama.
The drama, which has been dominating headlines, centres on a Kenyan woman who has accused Cubana Chief Priest of impregnating her and then neglecting his parental duties.
The situation took a new turn when the woman, now reportedly homeless, reached out to Nigerian music superstar Burna Boy for assistance, claiming that her child and she were suffering due to the abandonment.
Verydarkman, known for his outspoken social media presence, responded to the unfolding saga by suggesting a DNA test to confirm the paternity of the child.
While acknowledging the complexity of the case, he shared his observations and expressed mixed feelings about the woman’s narrative.
In his social media post, Verydarkman highlighted certain aspects of the woman’s story that seemed plausible but raised doubts about others.
He referenced an interview the woman had with journalist Lucky Udu, where she claimed to have met Cubana Chief Priest at a restaurant before meeting him again the following day at a hotel.
Verydarkman questioned the authenticity of this account, particularly given that Cubana Chief Priest was a stranger to the woman and she did not appear to fit the profile of a “runs girl”—a term used to describe women involved in transactional relationships.
Additionally, Verydarkman expressed scepticism over the woman’s claim that Cubana Chief Priest had been sending her money while she was in Nigeria, only to stop providing financial support later.
He also raised concerns about how the woman was able to open a Nigerian bank account despite not being a citizen of the country.
The call for a DNA test has sparked further debate online, with social media users expressing various opinions on the matter.
Some support Verydarkman’s suggestion, while others feel that the controversy should be handled privately between the parties involved.
As the drama continues to unfold, all eyes remain on Cubana Chief Priest’s next move and whether he will agree to the proposed DNA test to put the matter to rest.
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