The music industry comes with a lot of opportunities but at the same time comes with several challenges.
One of the biggest issues in the music industry, is the problem of record labels and contracts.
A recent example is the issue between the Nigerian Musician "Shallipopi" and his record label boss, Dapper. According to him, the record label takes about over 30% of his music earnings, which the artist now sees as unfair. At the time of signing the contract, he probably saw it as a golden opportunity to become famous and break into the industry. However, now that he is making a lot of money from music, he has realized that the deal isn't in his favour because a significant percentage of his earnings is going to the label. So last year, he decided to breach the contract and part ways with the label boss.
This kind of situation is actually not a new thing, especially in the Nigerian music industry. Many young artists sign contracts out of desperation to blow, not fully understanding what they are getting into. Later, when they start making money and start becoming famous, they realize that the contract is heavily in favor of the record label. These labels as well take advantage of these young and aspiring musicians and then they take a huge cut of their earnings, and even sometimes control their career..
Another major challenge is the heavy competition among musicians. The music industry is actually very competitive. There are thousands of upcoming artists trying to make it, and even established musicians have to work extra hard to remain relevant. So If an artist is not consistent enough, they are at risk of becoming forgotten by the people.
I have actually seen a lot of musicians over here in Nigeria, drop one or two hit songs and then disappear completely. Some artists even
enjoy massive success for a short time but struggle to maintain it because they just can’t keep up with the fast-paced nature of the industry. Nowadays, talent is not just enough —you need to be active on social media, constantly dropping snippets, engaging with fans, and staying in the public eye.
There’s also the issue of mental health and pressure. The demand to always be on top can be very overwhelming for these musicians. Fans expect them to drop hit songs back-to-back which is actually not easy, and the fear of becoming irrelevant leads to a lot of stress, anxiety, and depression. Some artists even have to turn to drugs and alcohol just to cope with the pressure, which sometimes ruin their careers.
At the end of the day, the music industry is not as glamorous as it seems from the outside. While it offers fame and fortune, it also comes with exploitation, heavy competition, financial struggles, and mental health challenges. For anyone hoping to make it in the industry, i would say it’s important to understand contracts and think carefully before signing them, stay consistent, and just be prepared for the ups and downs that comes with the journey.
Thanks for reading.