Nigerian singer Bella Shmurda has shed light on the reason behind the high performance fees charged by many Nigerian artistes, saying it’s not about greed but the real cost of being a musician in today’s industry.
Speaking in a recent interview with Naija FM Lagos, the Cash App crooner explained that musicians face enormous financial responsibilities that most fans and event organizers are unaware of.
According to him, the cost of producing, promoting, and maintaining a successful music career has skyrocketed, forcing artistes to charge what seems like exorbitant fees in order to break even.
“Speaking from the perspective of an artiste, making music is expensive,” Bella said. “I don’t repeat clothes because I’m a public figure. I spent $100,000 to pay producers, songwriters, and engineers that worked on my album, that’s over ₦100 million. Not to mention the cost of music videos and promotions. That’s a lot.”
The singer emphasized that artistes often have entire teams relying on them, including producers, sound engineers, stylists, dancers, and managers, all of whom need to be paid from the same performance income.
He further argued that fans often underestimate how much it takes to sustain the glitz and glamour that comes with being a celebrity.
“So, when I go for a show, I have to charge a fee that matches my investment. Even if I don’t make profit, I should at least be able to recover the cost of production,” he explained. “We’re not overcharging. If you look at it from our perspective, you’ll understand why.”
Bella Shmurda’s comments come amid ongoing conversations about the rising cost of booking top Nigerian artistes, both locally and internationally. With Afrobeats’ global success, performance fees have reportedly soared, with some stars charging millions of naira or even tens of thousands of dollars per show.
Still, Bella maintains that the high prices are a reflection of the hard work, expenses, and sacrifices behind every hit song and performance.
