Speaking during an interview with Naija FM Lagos, the “Cash App” hitmaker lamented that inflation and rising production expenses have made it increasingly difficult for artists to embark on large-scale projects. As a result, many are opting to release singles rather than full albums.
According to him, producing and promoting an album — typically containing 10 to 14 tracks — requires a much larger budget than promoting a single song.
“To release an album, you need a huge budget, unlike singles. Because for albums, you’re promoting 10 to 14 songs all at once. It’s a lot,” Bella Shmurda explained.
He noted that expenses such as radio promotions and music video production have become major financial hurdles, revealing that the minimum cost of producing a quality music video now stands at ₦20 million.
“Promoting songs on the radio, shooting videos for five, six songs, is a lot. These days, the least you can spend on a music video is ₦20 million. So, how many artists can afford to shoot five videos?” he asked.
The singer attributed the rising costs to Nigeria’s broader economic challenges, including inflation and the high cost of production, which have affected virtually every sector of the creative industry.
Bella Shmurda’s comments reflect a growing concern within the Nigerian music scene, where many emerging artists struggle to finance their work amid shrinking sponsorship opportunities and rising operational expenses.
Despite these challenges, the Afrobeat star continues to advocate for innovation and collaboration within the industry, urging both artists and investors to find sustainable ways to support music production and promotion in Africa’s largest entertainment market.