Popular Nigerian singer, Bella Shmurda, has spoken out on the high performance fees charged by top artistes, saying the amounts are justified by the huge costs of music production and lifestyle demands in the entertainment industry.
In an interview with Naija FM Lagos, the “Cash App” crooner said musicians invest heavily in creating quality music and managing their public image, stressing that many expenses go unnoticed by fans.
“Speaking from the perspective of an artiste, making music is expensive. I don’t repeat clothes because I’m a public figure. I spent $100,000 (over ₦100 million) to pay producers, songwriters, and engineers that worked on my album. Not to mention music videos and promotion costs. That’s a lot,” Bella explained.
He added that artistes also have to pay a large team of people who work behind the scenes — from stylists to managers and promoters — all funded from their show earnings.
“So, I go for a show, I would charge what would equate my investments. Even if I don’t make profit, I should at least be able to recover the cost of production. We’re not overcharging. If you look at it from our own perspective, you’ll agree with us,” he said.
Bella’s statement comes amid debates on social media about how much Nigerian artistes now demand for performances, with some charging millions of naira per show.
