Music Farming in the Nigerian Music Industry

By; Aliyu Maryam Maitasamu, U17mm1128.


Nigeria's music scene boasts a rich tapestry of talent, with artists like Davido, Olamide, Wizkid, Rema, and Tems, captivating millions of listeners on global music platforms. Their achievements have brought immense pride to the country, celebrating its vibrant music culture, with millions of listeners on music platforms like Spotify, apple music, audio mac, etc., these artists have won awards nationally and internationally. However, behind the glittering success lies a darker side, the alarming prevalence of "music farming”! MUSIC FARMING, is a secret plague lurking in Nigeria's music industry. Some artists, both upcoming and established, resort to this deceptive strategy to inflate their streaming numbers and social media following artificially. By doing so, they aim to create an illusion of popularity, hoping to attract the attention of record labels and music industry stakeholders, to artificially boost popularity on music streaming platforms and it is done by bots to gain exposure, increase the artist's chances of getting noticed by record labels, or to make their music appear more successful than it is.

Just recently a popular artist in Nigeria named Blaqbones complained about music farming on apple music as unpopular artists Seyi Vibes and Odumodu are on the top ten streams for the week which questioned the credibility of that music platform.

Another case is that of Omalay trying to music farm but mistakenly uploaded his old music which pushed it down to under 60.

Just like how the electoral candidate's rigg election, Nigerian musicians have decided not to take the back seat anymore and rigg music platforms and you think only our politicians are corrupt.

The rise of social media platforms like TikTok has provided artists with new avenues for exposure. Some artists have managed to gain popularity by reaching out to influencers, regardless of the quality of their music; an example is Shalliepoppy's ELON MUSK with a streaming number of 3,122,490 on Spotify.

Being caught in the web of music farming, artists risk severe damage to their reputations and career. If exposed, their deceitful actions could lead to public backlash, tarnishing their image and alienating fans. Such reputational damage can be challenging to recover from, severely hindering an artist's prospects in the music world.

Music farming places artists who follow the rules and genuinely work hard at a disadvantage. With popular artists continuously releasing music and seeking collaborations, the competition is already intense. Adding music-farming bots to the mix further increases the hurdles for authentic talent to break through and gain recognition.

The music industry's ethics has always been rooted in authenticity and genuine artistic expression.  Music farming compromises these values, turning the creative process into a manipulative game, it diminishes the essence of music, reducing it to mere numbers and algorithms.

To combat music farming and preserve the integrity of the music industry, several steps need to be taken:

Music streaming platforms must take serious measures to detect and prevent music farming, employing advanced algorithms and human oversight to spot and remove fake plays and followers.

Awareness campaigns and educational initiatives can enlighten artists about the long-term consequences of music farming. Emphasizing the value of authentic growth and genuine fan engagement can steer them away from unethical practices.

Music industry stakeholders, including record labels, producers, and influencers, must also play their part in promoting ethical practices. By collaborating only with genuine tales.

 



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