Burna Boy Urges Nigerian Artists to Look Beyond Local Hype and Aim Higher
Celebrated Nigerian Afrobeats musician, Burna Boy, has shared a candid message with Nigerian musicians, urging them to shift their focus from local applause and social media excitement to more meaningful goals.
The Grammy-winning artist, in a widely circulated post, emphasized that validation from platforms like Twitter or trending on local charts often brings short-lived satisfaction and doesn’t necessarily lead to long-term success in the music industry.
According to him, while it might feel good to see one’s name at the top of Nigerian charts, the financial returns tell a different story. He highlighted the massive earnings gap in streaming revenue between Nigeria and Western countries, noting that a million streams in Nigeria may generate just $300 to $400, while the same number in the US, UK, or parts of Europe could earn around $3,000 to $4,000 or more.
For him, topping the charts locally is not enough if it doesn’t translate into global visibility or substantial income. He encouraged upcoming talents to either broaden their ambitions and compete on the international stage or consider running side businesses to support themselves financially.
“Your song being number 1 on any streaming platform in Nigeria is not something to celebrate. Aim higher or do other businesses on the side.
“Dear artistes, don’t let twitter polls and Naija social media fans deceive you. They won’t fill up any stadium for you in any part of the world,” he wrote on Instagram.
Burna Boy’s comments come as a wake-up call to artists hoping to build lasting careers, reminding them that true success goes far beyond likes, retweets, and local popularity.
