Nigerian music producer and Mavin Records boss Michael Collins Ajereh, known as Don Jazzy, has described Afrobeats as still young compared to other global music styles.
In a tweet, he said the genre is developing and that artistes are continuously learning because the music industry keeps changing.
Don Jazzy also pointed out that the cost of promoting music in Nigeria has risen sharply over time.
He shared that music videos which cost a few million naira in the past can now go for over 100,000 dollars.
Despite these high costs, he said he is open to learning from others who have succeeded in areas he hasn’t explored, whether in music or other industries.
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He encouraged upcoming artistes and music executives to take lessons from those with experience, noting that even small insights can be valuable for growth in the Nigerian music scene.
Don Jazzy stressed that while Afrobeats has achieved international recognition, the journey of the genre and its practitioners is still ongoing.
He wrote: “This our beloved Afrobeats is still a baby genre in the grand scheme of things. We are all still learning everyday as the game is ever changing. If you told me just 6 years ago that an afrobeats video could cost over 20m Naira I would say ahh that’s way too much o. But behold some of us have shot videos over 100k dollars. If Burna tells me what it takes to do multiple international stadium shows, I will take notes cos I never run am before. If Dangote tells me what it cost to build a refinery in Lagos I will learn from him. That said, my people if I tell you how to run a successful record label in Nigeria, I will advise you take notes even if na small note cos we no plenty wey don run am.”
