Apple Music Top 100 Charts, Streaming Farms and Effects of Gate Keepers in the Nigerian Music Industry
Gatekeepers are individuals or entities that control access to certain industries or resources, and in the music industry, they can have a significant impact on an artist’s success. In Nigeria, gatekeepers can include record label executives, radio DJs, music journalists, and promoters, among others. Smen Music Company was contacted by an International Record Label Executives in the US and in the course of the discussion, we dive into the Streaming Farms and the circumstances surrounding the Apple Music Top 100 Charts. I will mention the name of the record label here, they had spread their roots into the African Music Industries. We decided to come up with this article as a result of our discussion.
The effects of gatekeepers on Nigerian musicians can be both positive and negative. On one hand, gatekeepers can provide valuable opportunities for exposure and promotion. For example, record label executives can provide funding and resources for recording and releasing music, while radio DJs can play an artist’s music on air, increasing their visibility and potentially leading to chart success.
However, gatekeepers can also create barriers to entry and limit the success of certain artists. In some cases, gatekeepers may be more interested in promoting established or commercially successful artists, leaving lesser-known or up-and-coming artists with fewer opportunities for exposure. Additionally, gatekeepers may have certain biases or preferences that can influence the types of music or artists that they choose to promote.
The use of streaming farms by Nigerian musicians to enter the charts has been a controversial topic in the music industry. A streaming farm refers to the practice of artificially inflating the number of streams a song receives on music streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. This is done by paying individuals or companies to repeatedly stream a song or album, thereby boosting its streaming numbers and increasing its chances of charting.
There are several reasons why Nigerian musicians may use streaming farms. Firstly, chart success is important for many artists, as it can lead to increased visibility, higher sales, and more lucrative performance opportunities. In Nigeria, the music industry is highly competitive, and chart success is seen as a key indicator of an artist’s popularity and commercial viability.
Entering the Apple Music Top 100 Chart in Nigeria requires a combination of factors, including having a high number of streams and downloads of your music, as well as gaining traction and popularity among listeners. The artist engaged in streaming farms can either be a rising artist or an established A-list Artist. They don’t want to go the normal way, they believe everyone is doing it, so theyrefore, they too must do it.
To promote your music and get on the Spotify and Apple Music Top 100 Charts, here are some steps that can help you increase your chances of entering the chart: Entering the Apple Music Top 100 Chart in Nigeria takes time, effort, and a bit of luck. Stay committed to your music, promote it consistently, and engage with your listeners, and you may just see your music climb up the charts.
- Release high-quality music: Make sure your music is well produced and of high quality to attract listeners.
- Promote your music: Use social media and other online platforms to promote your music and reach a wider audience.
- Collaborate with other artists: Collaborating with other artists can help you tap into their fanbase and increase your exposure.
- Engage with your audience: Respond to comments and messages from your listeners, and encourage them to share your music with their friends and family.
- Consider getting playlisted: Getting your music playlisted on popular Apple Music playlists can help increase your streams and exposure.
- Use music distribution services: Use music distribution services to ensure your music is available on all major streaming platforms, including Apple Music.
There are A-list artists that are pointing fingers to each other as a result of jealousy or hatred. Streaming farms may be used as a way to game the system and manipulate chart rankings. In some cases, artists may use streaming farms to bypass the traditional route of radio airplay and physical sales, which are also factors that contribute to chart placement. This can be particularly tempting for up-and-coming artists who may not have the same level of exposure or resources as established acts.
However, the use of streaming farms has been widely criticized for being fraudulent and unethical. It undermines the integrity of chart rankings and can create an unfair advantage for artists who use this tactic. Moreover, it can distort the perception of an artist’s popularity and lead to inflated expectations that may not be sustainable in the long term.
The effects of gatekeepers are particularly evident in the Nigerian music industry, which is highly competitive and often reliant on connections and relationships. As such, many up-and-coming artists may struggle to gain access to gatekeepers or compete with established acts that have more resources and support.
I think the gatekeepers in the Nigerian music Industry should help guide on how good structures can be built so that the industry will be economically viable to support the Country and impact artist’s success in both career and post-career eras.
It is important for the music industry to promote transparency and fairness in the promotion of artists, and to provide opportunities for up-and-coming artists to succeed. The gatekeepers want to shut the doors so that no one comes in and are struggling to throw the weaklings out.
In a discussion with another industry Professional, he told me that these gatekeepers are connected to Apple Music and Spotify Official and can frustrate your promotional efforts by writing petitions against you. They can label you as unknown and even query why you are on the chart in the first place.
In conclusion, while the use of streaming farms may provide short-term benefits for Nigerian musicians seeking chart success, it is not a sustainable or ethical practice in the long run. It is important for the music industry to address this issue and work towards more transparent and accurate chart rankings.
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