Drilly on the Music, the Business and What Comes Next
What began with playing piano in church eventually led Abatan Eniola, professionally known as Drilly, into music production, with credits on records like Kummie and Lojay’s Gorgeous and Kummie and Phyno’s 5AM. As his catalogue grows, so does his understanding of the business behind the music and the possibilities beyond production. Afro Soundtrack sat down […]
Seghabeatz Says Nigerian Producers Deserve More Recognition
From Shoday’s Money and Caution to My Sunshine, an original soundtrack for Funke Akindele’s film The Four: No one fights alone. Adesegha Adedayo Olorunfunmilola, professionally known as Seghabeatz, is a Nigerian producer whose journey began with playing instruments in church before evolving into music production. With a growing body of work and a love for […]
Darozi on Building a Sound That Outlasts Trends
From creating records like Prodigy and Ten minutes by 6uff, Michael Elomba, professionally known as Darozi, is establishing himself as a producer with a sound that’s impossible to ignore. In an industry where trends come and go, Darozi is focused on creating music with a distinct identity and building a catalog designed to outlast fleeting […]
Can Gospel Music Make Room for Something New? Holy Drill Thinks So
The producer behind worship anthems like Yeshua and Promise Keeper, Daniel Okoli, professionally known as Holy Drill, has carved out a distinctive space in Nigeria’s Christian music scene, bringing the intensity of drill into worship in a way that feels both bold and deeply spiritual. Over the last few years, he has pushed the boundaries […]
AfroSelecta-BBK Had the Attention, Then He Learned What Success Really Meant
David Bababikoi, professionally known as AfroSelecta-BBK, has quietly built a reputation as one of the creative forces shaping Nigeria’s evolving hip-hop sound, with co-production credits on ODUMODUBLVCK’s Dog Eat Dog Parts 1 and 2. The Abuja-based producer, sound engineer and animator isn’t chasing the spotlight. He’s focused on building a body of work that speaks […]
For TBM, Making the Music Was Only Half the Story
Producer The Beat Modra discusses Burna Boy’s “Giza,” building his Forest Sound, music publishing, royalties and creating records for Seyi Vibez and Reekado Banks.
Social Media Royalties for Music Creators: What African Creators Need to Know
You edit your video, you choose the perfect song, you post it on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or YouTube. And then, without warning, the audio disappears. The video is still there but the sound is gone. This happens to creators every single day, across every genre and every market and most of them don’t know why. […]
DSPs Changed the Game for African Music Creators. So Why Are So Many Still Missing Royalties?
In 2025, Spotify paid Nigerian artists more than $43.8 million in royalties, a 15% increase from the previous year. South African artists earned another $26 million from the platform during the same period. Combined, that is nearly $70 million from a single DSP, in a single year, flowing to artists from just two African countries. […]
How Much Are 1 Million Streams Worth in Nigeria? (Music Streaming Revenue Explained)
How many streams do I need to make $1,000 on Spotify? It is one of the most Googled questions in the African music industry. Spend enough time on creator forums and you will also find a related version: how much is 100 million streams worth? Both questions sound reasonable. Neither of them is asking the […]
Turning Your Gigs into Recurring Income as a Session Musician in Nigeria
After playing the live instrumentals that bring a song to life, you receive your one-time fee, leave the studio, and your relationship with the record ends there. The song goes on to climb charts, travel across borders, and generate significant revenue, but none of that reaches you. Sound familiar? This is the financial reality for […]