It’s easy to assume that because an artist is always shining on our screens, dressing like a million bucks, and getting international recognition, their bank account must be smiling. But have you ever looked into these people from the other side of the mirror? If it’s easy to entertain and make quick fortune, ask me – why are you not doing it? Meanwhile, this post is not in a contempt to mislead nor discourage any lover of entertainment, but to help elaborate on some key controversies surrounding the entertainment industry, using the music category as a case study.

The Silence Hustle In Africa’s Entertainment Industry 

Why Many Popular Musicians Are Still Broke Despite Their Fame? The struggle to becoming a star in the entertainment industry especially for African artists, is not as rosy as it looks from the outside. Using the music industry as an example. Before we had fans across different genres of beats in Africa – ranging from R&B, Reggae, Highlife, but since Afrobeats has taken over the industry due to Gen Z, the hits becomes global with optimum sold-out shows, Grammy nominations, you name it.

And the entertainers in this current generation unlike our old lucky Dube, Maxwell Udoh, Glen Washington are looking quite flashy and expensive on the screen. But the truth remains that if we remove the packaging and look beneath the surface, the story is not always as sweet as it seems.

Our African artists still struggle financially – Have you been  hearing of Solidstar, Iyanya of Kukere, Humble Smith, Wizboy, Jmartins, Lilkesh… Just name them. Because these artists were once the talk in town, and by right are supposed to be world superstars if at all fame, appearance and hit equates wealth directly. But instead, the reality is, our music industry is built on shaky foundations, and if we don’t talk about it, we’ll keep believing half-truths. So, let’s break it down from the very basics.

The False Promises And Global Recognition

Gone are the days when artists relied solely on CD sales or radio airplay. Now, it’s all about streaming platforms—Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube. These platforms have given African artists a chance to go global, but let’s not deceive ourselves—the money that actually comes in from streaming is nothing to write home about, especially when you consider the blood and sweat it takes to push your music and build a solid fanbase.

I’ve been in the system of managing music distribution for both big names and upcoming artists. I’ve seen millions of streams roll in, I’ve watched artists get playlisted and enjoy the bragging rights, but at the end of the day, what’s in the account? Pennies. Yes, streaming gives you exposure, but exposure doesn’t pay the bills. Be honest with yourself—do you really know how much artists earn per thousand streams on Spotify, Audiomack, or Apple Music? If you did, you’d understand why many of them still struggle despite their million downloads and plays.

That’s not even the issue, atleast these digital platforms are in to help them in one way or the other get out from the hands of their fat bosses. Atleast these platforms aren’t cheating because they’re the middlemen between the content creators and advertisers – meaning they’re directly paying from advertisers bidding. Not government agencies, and not embezzled public funds.

Now, let’s talk about:

Record Deals – The Main Trap For African Upcoming Artists

Those contracts look sweet at first—promises of international fame, global recognition, and all the paparazzi. But what they don’t tell you is that the record label takes the lion’s share of the revenue, leaving the artist with crumbs. Atleast you should ask yourself, why are record label promising all these fortunes? How are they going to fulfill? How do I go out from their hands if they fulfill? What if I can’t wait for the contract due date before moving on? You see the trap?

Remember when Boss Kiss Daniel was under G-Worldwide? Back when “Laye” and “Sweet Mama” were banging, The name kiss Daniel was everywhere—shows, interviews, billboards. But was he really making a fortune? Have you listened to his story and the truest reality that made him force a break on his boss? Trust you’ve once at a time seen Kiss Daniel as a Rebellion? But the truth remain that the label was cashing out while he was just getting by. It took breaking free from that contract for him to truly enjoy the rewards of his hard work today.

This is for all and intended Artists, and managers; the situation is even more frustrating. Many of them jump into contracts without fully understanding the fine print, only to realise later that they’ve practically signed away their rights. Some get small change as advance payments, but when the real money starts rolling in, they see little to nothing. Meanwhile, the record labels keep cashing out. Even when an artist racks up millions of streams, the payout is nothing to write home about. To make matters worse, labels push them to make “marketable” music instead of allowing them to express their true sound.

Moral of the story? In this music game, fame doesn’t always mean money. Know the business, or you’ll just be working for others to eat.

Lack of Financial Literacy and Management

Case Study Of Sky B

One major reason many African musicians struggle financially, despite their fame, is simple—they don’t understand money. A lot of artists blow up overnight without the slightest idea of how to manage their income. Budgeting, investing, and handling royalties? That one is like rocket science to many upcoming musicians. They cash out big from endorsements, streaming, and shows, but because they have zero financial sense, the money disappears like magic.

Instead of securing their future, some artists get carried away by the razzmatazz of fame. The moment the millions start rolling in, they rush to buy designer clothes, flashy cars, and expensive jewelry, as if life is a music video. Social media has made things worse—everyone wants to prove a point, even when their bank account is on life support. They spend recklessly, forgetting that music careers don’t last forever. Then, when the hits stop coming, reality slaps them like Lagos traffic.

And it’s not just the young, fresh artists making these mistakes. Even seasoned musicians—some of whom have been in the game for decades—fall into the same trap. No financial discipline, no savings, no solid investments. Many get scammed, others pour money into dead-end businesses, and some just waste it on vibes and cruise.

The sad part? The African music industry lacks proper financial guidance. No advisors, no structured financial management. By the time many artists realize they’ve wrecked their finances, it’s game over.

The Culture of Exploitation

The African music industry is a jungle, and if an artist isn’t sharp, vultures will feast on their sweat. Record labels, managers, and promoters—many of them glorified middlemen—prey on naïve artists, luring them with sugarcoated deals that look like gold but are nothing more than shackles. These contracts promise heaven but deliver struggle, tying artists down with ridiculous terms that strip them of their creative and financial freedom.

For many musicians, signing a label deal seems like the golden ticket, but in reality, it’s often a one-way road to servitude. They are squeezed dry—forced to churn out albums like factory workers, hand over rights to their own music, and survive on peanuts while the real money flows into the pockets of others. To make matters worse, they are constantly shuffled from city to city like wandering minstrels, with no thought given to their well-being or future.

And then there are the managers, promoters, and even opportunistic family members—professional leeches who take their cut without adding any real value. While the artist is drowning in exhaustion and stress, these parasites are busy chopping life at their expense. This is exactly the struggle behind Mohbad of greatest memory.

How To Achieve Financial Freedom As An Artist

Kiss Daniel For Example

So, What’s the Way Forward? The music industry—both at home and abroad—has to evolve if African artists want to stop being rich in fame but broke in reality. It’s not just about making hit songs; artists need to understand money, control their revenue streams, and build wealth the smartest way possible.

Independent music labels and digital platforms like Audiomack, SoundCloud, and Bandcamp are already shifting power back to musicians. These platforms allow artists to release their music directly to fans, cutting out middlemen and keeping more of their hard-earned money. Kizz Daniel, for instance, took charge of his career by founding Flyboy Inc., a move that gave him complete control over his music, brand, and financial decisions.

Beyond that, financial literacy is key. Too many musicians make money today and go broke tomorrow. Artists need to understand royalties, investments, and passive income. Kizz Daniel’s ability to leverage his brand into lucrative endorsement deals and a strong digital presence is proof that financial literacy and calculative fiscal decisions.

Key Facts: With knowledge, smart decisions, and the right tools, Artists as well as other Entertainers in Africa can move beyond just being famous to becoming truly wealthy.