I sigh when I was reading this and honestly, it's only those who look intently into the industry will understand the fact that we are still small in grand scheme of things when it comes to licensing despite the massive outputs year in year out.
There was a time I checked how much African artists are being paid across platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and all, the money is just meager based on the metric that is being used, unlike the counterparts in the western world.
We have the market but you have nailed it, there is need for structure that will make the house not to collapse within even when the people outside might be seeing that the house is standing but which is not.
That gap between output and actual earnings is the part that doesn’t get enough attention. On the surface, it looks like growth, more songs, more streams, more visibility. But when you start looking closely at how value is tracked and paid out, you realise how much is still leaking.
And you’re right, compared to more mature markets, it’s not just about scale, it’s about structure. The systems behind the scenes are what make the difference between cultural dominance and real economic power.
What concerns me most is exactly what you pointed out, the “house that looks standing.” From the outside, African music feels like it has already won. But without strong licensing and enforcement, that foundation is still fragile.
The opportunity is still massive though. If the structure catches up with the output, this industry won’t just be globally relevant, it will be sustainably profitable for the people building it.
I really appreciate you taking the time to read this article and share your comment, Tella.
I sigh when I was reading this and honestly, it's only those who look intently into the industry will understand the fact that we are still small in grand scheme of things when it comes to licensing despite the massive outputs year in year out.
There was a time I checked how much African artists are being paid across platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and all, the money is just meager based on the metric that is being used, unlike the counterparts in the western world.
We have the market but you have nailed it, there is need for structure that will make the house not to collapse within even when the people outside might be seeing that the house is standing but which is not.
Thank you Layo.
You’ve said this so clearly.
That gap between output and actual earnings is the part that doesn’t get enough attention. On the surface, it looks like growth, more songs, more streams, more visibility. But when you start looking closely at how value is tracked and paid out, you realise how much is still leaking.
And you’re right, compared to more mature markets, it’s not just about scale, it’s about structure. The systems behind the scenes are what make the difference between cultural dominance and real economic power.
What concerns me most is exactly what you pointed out, the “house that looks standing.” From the outside, African music feels like it has already won. But without strong licensing and enforcement, that foundation is still fragile.
The opportunity is still massive though. If the structure catches up with the output, this industry won’t just be globally relevant, it will be sustainably profitable for the people building it.
I really appreciate you taking the time to read this article and share your comment, Tella.
I hope we get it right sooner.