Backlash hits Burna Boy over stream's 'financially useless' remarks

Backlash hits Burna Boy over stream’s ‘financially useless’ remarks

Popular Nigerian musician, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu known by his fans as Burna Boy has received a backlash from his fans and upcoming artists following a controversial post he made on his Instagram handle.

The ‘Twice as Tall’ hit maker had downplayed the vital role Nigerian audience has on the Global music scene.

Recall that Teastrend had reported the artist to have made a post on his Instagram handle where he cautioned his colleagues to not get carried away by “Naija social media fans.”

The artist argued that online attention would not translate to real-world success, thus urging them to focus more on aiming higher.

His statement, “They won’t fill up any stadium for you in any part of the world,” has prompted lots of criticism from Nigerians who felt spurned by his remarks.

His post which has gone viral has got Netizens and fellow creatives feeling slighted, who further accused him of being ungrateful and dismissive of the same audience that has being an anchor to his fame.

The post seemed to suggest that Nigerian fans are not financially viable enough to sustain a successful global career despite their support.

Burna Boy seemed to have backed-up his argument when he shared a follow-up post with figures that represent the streaming capacity of other countries, comparing Nigerian streaming platforms with those of Europe and US.

According to him, one million Nigerian streams generate between $300 and $400, while the same number of streams in the US, or Europe earns about $3,000 to $4,000. This, he argued, demonstrates the economic limitations of relying solely on the Nigerian market.

“Your song being number1 on any streaming platform in Nigeria is not something to celebrate. Aim higher or do other businesses on the side,” he argued.

While he claimed to have share the post with love, his fans and young Nigerian artists seem to have a different thing to say entirely. As they believe, his ‘loved up’ post is demoralizing to upcoming talents who look up to him (Burna Boy) as a role model.

In a backlash from fans, they claimed that his rise to stardom has being the significant efforts and support of those at the grassroots.

While some has criticized his post as a betrayal of the same fan base that supported his rise to International acclaim which shaped his career, others believed he was speaking from a business perspective.

Further claiming that his speech is a reality check on the financial disparities that exist in the music industry, thus urging artists to diversify and think beyond national borders.

However, the comments have reignited debates about the value of African audiences in the global entertainment economy and the need for reevaluation to ensure artists are better compensated for their work within their home countries.