Industry Insights

What's actually happening in the music business — trends shaping how beats are bought and sold, how streaming payouts work, what labels are looking for, and real talk on how independent artists are winning (and losing) in today's industry.

Burna Boy Just Became the First African Artist to Ever Perform at a World Cup Halftime Show — And He Didn't Do It Quietly
Industry Insights 16 July 2026
Burna Boy Just Became the First African Artist to Ever Perform at a World Cup Halftime Show — And He Didn't Do It Quietly

This isn't a token inclusion. Burna Boy said representing Africa on the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show is...

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King Kaka Called It 'Braggadocious' Because Surviving Was Not Enough. He Needed You to Know He's Still Here
Industry Insights 3 July 2026
King Kaka Called It 'Braggadocious' Because Surviving Was Not Enough. He Needed You to Know He's Still Here

he brag is never available at the beginning. It is only available to the artist who has done enough, consistently enough...

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Ruto Just Took Royalty Collection Out of CMO Hands. Kenya's Sh7.1 Billion Music Money Problem Finally Has the Government's Attention
Industry Insights 20 June 2026
Ruto Just Took Royalty Collection Out of CMO Hands. Kenya's Sh7.1 Billion Music Money Problem Finally Has the Government's Attention

The pattern across every one of these stories, MCSK, the eCitizen directive, the frozen blank tape royalties, the Sh87.6...

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Bensoul Left Kenya's Biggest Label to Own His Music. 'Not Letting Go' Is What That Looks Like When It Works
Industry Insights 23 May 2026
Bensoul Left Kenya's Biggest Label to Own His Music. 'Not Letting Go' Is What That Looks Like When It Works

he title of the song is doing more than one thing at once. "Not Letting Go" is a heartfelt and soulful ballad touchin...

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She Didn't Wait for Permission: The East African Woman Rewriting What a Music Career Looks Like in 2026
Industry Insights 30 April 2026
She Didn't Wait for Permission: The East African Woman Rewriting What a Music Career Looks Like in 2026

Nobody handed Njerae a blueprint. She built her sound quietly, releasing music under her own terms, blending alternativ...

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The Nairobi Artist Who Buys Beats at 3am Using MPesa Is Already Ahead of the Competition
Industry Insights 21 April 2026
The Nairobi Artist Who Buys Beats at 3am Using MPesa Is Already Ahead of the Competition

It is 3am in Nairobi. Westlands is quiet. Matatus stopped running an hour ago. The city that never fully sleeps is at...

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