Nigerian artistes now charge N200m, upcoming ones demand N80m – AY comedian reveals

Nigerian comedian AY has spoken about the significant rise in fees charged by Nigerian artists for performances at his AY Live show. Speaking about the evolution of costs over the years, AY revealed that major musicians like Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, and Olamide have all graced the stage of AY Live, with appearances previously facilitated primarily through personal relationships.

However, AY noted a stark change in the financial expectations from these artists. While in the past, performances were often made possible with modest compensation, artistes now demand fees ranging from N200 million to N80 million. The comedian attributed this dramatic increase to the growth of the Nigerian music industry, highlighting that today's musicians earn from global streams, international endorsements, and other lucrative opportunities in foreign currencies.

He pointed out that even up-and-coming artists now demand substantial sums, with some asking for N80 million for appearances. AY emphasized that having a strong personal rapport with an artist can significantly ease the process of securing their participation, though without such a relationship, booking these artists for a comedy show can become quite costly.