Veteran Nigerian musician, Baba Fryo, has expressed concern over the growing difficulty of producing hit songs in today’s music industry, noting that many artistes now rely on controversial tactics to gain attention.
He made this known during a recent appearance on the I Say What I Say podcast, where he pointed to the recent debate sparked by Wizkid’s comparison of himself with the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. According to Baba Fryo, the situation was a calculated move to promote Wizkid’s joint EP with Asake, titled Real.
“It take a lot to get a mega hit now. Some go even do some kind stunt. Shey you dey see the one with ‘Wizkid pass Fela’; all these ones na stunt.
“A lot of artists spark controversy on purpose so that people will stream their songs. I takes a lot to get a hit now because they have raised the bar so high,” he expressed.
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Reflecting on his own era, Baba Fryo explained that achieving a hit song used to be more straightforward, as success depended largely on the quality of the music and organic acceptance from listeners, with little need for heavy promotion.
He also criticised key stakeholders in the industry, including DJs, music executives, and even artistes, for contributing to the current challenges. He alleged that some industry players sideline quality songs in favour of trending sounds.
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The veteran musician concluded by calling on Nigerian artistes and music executives to refocus on producing quality music rather than chasing trends and social media attention.
