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A lot of things have changed in the past 21 years in the Music Industry. Not only new influencers took over the years, but the choice of genres and styles became more versatile when it comes to international engagement.
Over the years there has been an ongoing tension and rivalry between people in the limelight. At some point there are and will always be rising artists that will take over the others and start new eras. In each year there have been new things and people adding to the development of the industry.
Now we’ve reached the third decade since 2000 and a lot of exciting things have been going o since the start of the rise of Nigerian music industry. Nigerians have a had a lot of impacts when it comes to music and as well dancing trends. The music industry evolution is obviously a huge role in the society.
So how far are we with the music industry evolution? Can we be compared to other countries? What steps have we made and which are we yet to take? Here are the important info to know about the evolution of Nigerian music industry.
Starting from 2000’s, we have been improving and bringing Nigerian jams even into the hearts of other countries. When we just got out of the Fela era, In those years 2face, P-Square, Flavour, Da Grin and numerous other artists were at the top. Then Nigerian music more of took of reggae and r&b sound then it does now.
Though it had some advanced tones mixed in the sound, it wasn’t international addressed and kept to its Nigerian standards.
In comparing with the songs the same artists released in the 2010’s, There is a huge difference.
During the first few years in the new millennium, we got extremely involved with international engagement, especially American music. Laying many impacts in Nigeria and around the globe was an early development that expanded over the year.
When Don Jazzy came into the game, teamed up with D’Banj and developed the then popular record label ‘Mo’Hits Records’, they got a lot of international engagement.
It was clear that years later Nigerian music would increase on recognition and respect from other countries. We’ve enrolled for multiple Grammys and won few.
In the 2010’s Nigerian music has expanded its genre list and upgraded its tone and vibe. Nigerian music has continued adapting to the international tone and loses its natural development. For some people the music industry has lose it values because it has lost its natural African standards.
In the 2nd decade of the millennium there have been fresh people growing along the society and technology. Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy and others have taken over and continued the international threat with music that drew even more attention to us. They kept on touring in other countries too and made us the seat for the best African music industry stable.
Till now they’ve been ruling the industry, but newcomers kept on joining as industry babies. Joe Boy, Rema, Fire Boy and of course Mayorkun had their tickets bought just at the edge of the 2nd decade and now that we’re in the new one, we have more to expect.
Although it was an ongoing attempt that usually ended up less powerful than expected, but to expect is still a movement from the female artists in the industry. We had way to less girls empowering the scene and it could be much needed.
It could be cool seeing more people going back to the main and original sound of our afro-sound. If the latest leading people could really achieve that is a question of the new and 3rd decade of this millennium. The music industry clearly evolution seems to have it’s pros and contras.
A lot of people complain about the issue of Nigerian music copying international sounds more than sticking to its original sound. Canceling some genres that have been added over the years is not a solution this.
The best thing that can be done is simply to adjust these genres according to our standards, which is simply a matter of lyrics and beat making.
For an example if a Nigerian wants to go into trap, it can be adjusted to sound less like Migos and more like something a Nigerian would release. It could have pidgin or even Nigerian languages instead of the standard America slangs. It could contain more traditional sounds and less usual digital drums and beats.
There needs to be someone that has the capacity and strength to take that very step and drive others to take the same move.
It might end up being the next stage for the music industry. Let’s see what will happen in this decade…
