Grammy-winning Nigerian superstar Burna Boy is shaking tables again, and this time, he’s coming for the Nigerian music industry’s obsession with streaming numbers.
In a recent Instagram story, the Afrofusion star exposed the harsh financial reality faced by Nigerian artists on streaming platforms and as well dropped a truth bomb that has artists and fans talking:
“Streaming platforms pay Nigerian artistes a mere $400 for a whopping 1 million Nigerian streams. So your song, being number 1 on any streaming platform, is not something to celebrate. Aim higher or do other businesses on the side. I type with love.”
But love or not, the message hits hard.
For Burna, chart-topping success means nothing if the bank account doesn’t reflect it. His post dares Nigerian artistes to look beyond the “#1 on Apple Music” bragging rights and face the reality: local streaming pays peanuts.
And he’s not sugarcoating it, he’s telling them to get a side hustle.
The statement adds fuel to his earlier sentiment where he questioned the financial status of local superstars. “You think your favourite is rich?” he asked back then. Now, he’s doubling down, challenging the industry’s priorities and encouraging artists to wake up to the economic truth behind the fame.
Burna’s message is clear: being number one on the charts is no longer a reliable indicator of financial success. While artists bask in the glory of streaming milestones, the actual payout from local streams, roughly $400 for 1 million barely scratches the surface of what it takes to sustain a music career in today’s economy.
He urges fellow artists to broaden their horizons, invest in side businesses, and avoid getting lost in the illusion of online numbers. “Aim higher,” he emphasizes, suggesting that artists focus on global reach, licensing deals, touring, brand partnerships, and ownership as more sustainable income streams.
It’s controversial, sure but it’s also a rare dose of honesty from someone at the top of the food chain.
Whether you agree with him or not, Burna Boy is making it clear: fame without strategy is a fast lane to frustration.
Number 1 is not money. And if your music isn’t bringing in real cash? Maybe it’s time to start that clothing line, open that lounge, or learn crypto.
According to Burna, the charts don’t pay like they used to.
