Nigerian rapper Shallipopi, one of the country’s rising stars from the fusion of Amapiano, Afrobeats, and Hip Hop, has weighed in on the ongoing debate about Nigerian artists’ booking fees. In a recent interview with News Central TV, Shallipopi addressed the growing sentiment that Nigerian artists are becoming too expensive to book, especially for local promoters.
Shallipopi believes that an artist’s fees should reflect the success and global reach of their music. “It depends on your music and where it has gotten; that’s what your price is going to be,” he explained. He emphasized that Nigerian artists with the same streaming numbers and international recognition as American stars should command similar fees.
“If your music has gotten the same streams as an American artist, you should be charging the way they charge. But if your streams aren’t up to that, you cannot overcharge,” Shallipopi said, refuting claims that Nigerian artists are pricing themselves out of the local market. He insists that Nigerian musicians are simply charging what they’re worth.
As Nigerian music continues to dominate the global stage, Afrobeats artists are seeing their value soar, with booking fees reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars. This rise in demand has made it increasingly difficult for Nigerian promoters to afford A-list stars for local shows, sparking debate within the industry.
However, Shallipopi argues that Nigerian artists deserve to be paid on par with their international counterparts, given their global success and influence. With Afrobeats taking the world by storm, Nigerian artists are now enjoying unprecedented international patronage, and their fees reflect this growing status.
You can watch Shallipopi’s full interview with News Central TV below.
