Ayo Animashaun, the visionary behind the prestigious Headies Awards, has pulled back the curtain on the financial realities of Nigeria’s music industry.
In a candid revelation, he exposed the harsh truth—while a handful of A-list artists thrive, the majority are barely scraping by.
The industry insider dropped these bombshells during a no-holds-barred chat with TejuBabyface.
“The glitz and glamour you see? It’s often just smoke and mirrors,” Animashaun confessed. “Behind the scenes, many artists are living paycheck to paycheck, praying for their big moment.”
He urged musicians to take a hard look at their careers, suggesting they either pivot to more lucrative markets, reinvent their approach, or face the possibility of bowing out.
“Let’s be real—you can’t name ten Nigerian artists truly cashing in,” he challenged. “It’s the elite few and some labels. The rest? They’re fighting an uphill battle.”
“I’ve seen the struggle firsthand,” Animashaun continued, his voice tinged with concern. “Nigerian streaming payouts are laughable compared to global standards. And gigs? Unless you’re top-tier, good luck landing decent-paying shows.”
“The truth hurts—many artists are barely keeping up appearances, hoping for that one breakthrough. If you’re in this game, you’d better know where you stand. Maybe it’s time to switch markets, change tactics, or bow out gracefully.”