Nigerian rapper Tochukwu Ojogwu, widely known as Odumodublvck, has raised concerns about the prevalence of “stream farming” in the Nigerian music industry. He criticized the practice, emphasizing that inflated streaming numbers fail to translate into tangible results such as concert bookings or ticket sales, both locally and internationally.
In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Odumodublvck stated, “There’s a high level of stream farming going on in the Nigerian music industry. The farming is crazy because it’s not translating into shows, bookings, or ticket sales. So, what’s the point?”
Odumodublvck is not alone in his observations. Fellow rapper Blaqbonez has repeatedly accused certain artists and their teams of manipulating streams, particularly on platforms like Apple Music Nigeria charts. Blaqbonez claims that some artists rely on “streaming farms” to artificially boost their numbers.
However, renowned Nigerian music executive Don Jazzy has dismissed these allegations. In a 2023 interview, he firmly denied the existence of such practices, stating that there is no such thing as a “streaming farm.”
Despite Don Jazzy’s stance, the debate over stream manipulation continues to surface, with both industry insiders and observers voicing their concerns.
The clash of perspectives highlights a growing tension between artists and industry leaders over the authenticity of streaming success and its impact on real-world opportunities like concerts and ticket sales.