Afrobeats singer Magixx has argued that Nigerian musicians need commercially successful songs with international reach to build substantial wealth from their careers.
The Mavin Records artiste made the observation during an appearance on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, where he discussed the financial realities of working in the Nigerian music industry.
According to him, securing a record deal with a major label does not automatically translate into financial stability, as artistes still need hit songs to generate significant income.
Magixx disclosed that he waited between two and three months after joining Mavin Records, founded by music executive Don Jazzy, before he began earning money from his music.
He said the period was financially challenging, as he struggled to meet personal bills and family responsibilities despite being signed to a prominent label.
The singer also recalled that people often assumed his financial needs had been taken care of because of his association with Mavin Records.
He said the expectation to maintain the image of a successful music star, including spending on expensive designer clothing, added to the pressure.
Magixx further explained that an artiste’s performance fee is often influenced by the number of commercially successful songs in their catalogue.
He said one hit song could attract performance fees of between ₦500,000 and ₦700,000 per show, while another successful release could push the fee to about ₦1.5 million.
The singer stressed that artistes must continue releasing successful records after their first major hit to maintain their earning power and remain financially stable.
