A look at the remarkable moments in Nigeria music industry in 2022
By Ridwan Adekunle
The Nigeria entertainment industry recorded a lot success in 2022, with many records been broken and set by Nigeria entertainers.
Also , the Nigeria arts, entertainment and recreation also contributed positively to the Nigeria GDP.
According to CEIC data, Arts, Entertainment & Recreation data was reported at 73,804.962 NGN mn in Sep 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 70,839.325 NGN mn for Jun 2022. Nigeria GDP basic prices services on Arts, Entertainment & Recreation data is updated quarterly, averaging 55,982.250 NGN mn from Mar 2010 to Sep 2022, with 51 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 102,105.956 NGN mn in Mar 2022 and a record low of 6,026.039 NGN mn in Jun 2010.
Also,according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a global consulting firm in the world, has projected that Nigeria’s consumer revenue in entertainment and media (E&M) will rank fourth as the fastest-growing country by 8.8 per cent from 2022 to 2026.
In the latest industry report titled “Perspectives from the Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2022-2026,” PwC says the rate will be driven by strong growth in video games, music, and cinema.
Video revenue increased by 22.8 per cent in 2021 after soaring in 2020, reaching US$79.1 billion. The rate of revenue growth will slow down; through 2026 when revenue is predicted to reach US$114.1 billion. It is expected to increase at a Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6 per cent.
Video games revenue, which rose 32 percent between 2019 and 2021, will rise at an 8.4 per cent CAGR through 2026, creating a US$321bn industry.
Cinemas, which are slowly reviving from the COVID shutdowns, won’t regain their 2019 revenue total of US$45.2 billion until 2023.
Digital music-streaming subscriptions are driving growth in the recorded music sector where revenues are forecast to rise from US$36.1 billion in 2021 to US$45.8 billion in 2026.
As we say goodbye to 2022, let’s take a moment to relive some of the significant wins in the Nigerian entertainment space.
This year saw the underdogs rise effortlessly to stardom at, literally, the speed of light. Also, most of our favorites made bullish moves, made history, and broke the internet. Everyone was stunned by specific announcements.
In April, Damini Ogulu, known as Burna Boy became the first Nigerian ever to sell out the Madison Square Garden in New York.
Since 2012 when “Like to Party” dominated airwaves, Burna Boy has continued to grow in leaps and bounds. Fast-forward to 2021, he won the Best World Music Album at the 63rd Grammys, after getting a nomination the previous edition. He’s bagged BET awards, sold out prestigious locations, and performed in virtually every continent.
On July 8, 2022, he released his sixth album titled, ‘Love, Damini’. Since then, the album has continued to break records, including having the highest debut position for an afrobeats album on the Billboard 200 album chart, at number 14, after selling over 20,000 copies in the USA. The same album debuted on the United Kingdom album chart at number two, becoming the highest-charting afrobeats album in the UK. The album also dominated most digital streaming platforms in Nigeria, with most of the songs occupying the top 10 spots on the Spotify Daily Chart in Nigeria, and the Apple Music Top Songs Nigeria Chart.
‘Last Last’, one of the songs on the album, debuted at number 13 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart.
Pop Star, Ayodeji Balogun known as Wizkid was not short of good fortune in the year 2022 as he continue to conquer the world.
The Afrobeats heavyweight released his fifth album titled, ‘More Love Less Ego’, on November 14, it sold about 13, 000 copies in its first week, while debuting at number 59 on the Billboard 200,a chart of the top selling albums in the United States of America, making it the second highest grossing afrobeats album in history, trailing only Burna Boy’s album, ‘Love, Damini’.
Two days after he released the album,the music star performed at his sold-out concert at the Madison Square Garden in New York, USA,thrilling fans with hits from his latest album “More Love, Less Ego”, as well as taking fans down memory lane to where it all started over a years ago.
David Adeleke, aka Davido, also recorded some successes in what is said to be an emotional year for him.
He flew the Nigerian flag at the just concluded FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Davido, Aisha, Ozuna, Gims, Nora Fathi, Balqees, Rahma Riad and Manal all joined forces for a 10-minute performance medley of the tournament’s official songs during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar closing ceremony.
Davido became the first Nigerian artist and one of the few Africans to achieve such a feat.
His performance was particularly noticeable because it was the first time he would mount the stage after the death of his son, Ifeanyi, on October 31, 2022.
Earlier in March, Davido had hosted a show in London at the 20,000 capacity 02 Arena.
He sold out the show without a employing a show promoter or a reseller, setting a milestone that had never been attained by any African artiste.
He also performed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at the Expo 2022, where he was reportedly paid over $700,000.
In May, his hit song ‘Stand Strong’ debuted at number nine on the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs Chart, and TurnTable Top 50 Streaming Songs Chart. It was also the number two song on the TurnTable Top 50 Airplay.
One artiste who took everyone by storm this year was Ololade Ahmed,known as Asake, with his unique style of music, complemented with his fashion style and swag.
Like many Nigerians, Asake has lived through a tale filled with hardships, having to stand firm and overcome the many hurdles daily living has thrown at him.
The 27-year-old often describes playing the cards he was dealt in order to claw his way out of the nation’s underbelly in his own way.
Although Asake started releasing music on DSPs in 2019, it took another year for him to experience a taste of going viral through the club banger ‘Mr. Mone’, which registered him in the Nigerian soundscape.
Asake got his major break earlier this year in January, 2022, when street-hop legend Olamide hopped on his single ‘Omo Ope’ and signed Asake to his YBNL label shortly after. ‘Omo Ope’ would go on to change the trajectory of Asake’s career, cementing his sound and beginning his domination of 2022 in Nigerian music.
His debut album, ‘Mr. Money With The Vibe’, claimed a spot on the World Billboard Album Chart. The album contains 12 tracks, including previously released singles such as ‘Sungba Remix’ (feat. Burna Boy), ‘Peace Be Unto You’ and ‘Terminator’. Another song on the album, ‘Reason’, which featured American rapper, Russ, became the fourth highest charting Nigerian album after Burna Boy’s ‘Love, Damini’.
