Film director and photographer Dammy Twitch explains why filmmakers often struggle to use Afrobeats songs in their productions.
Afrobeats Music Ownership Barriers
He shared this insight during an appearance on the Afropolitan podcast, where he discussed the growing tension between Nigeria’s film and music industries.
First, he points to music ownership as the main challenge.
Many Afrobeats artistes sign publishing and distribution agreements with third-party companies, and these deals shift control away from the original creators.
Consequently, filmmakers lose the ability to negotiate directly with artistes.
High licensing costs
Next, he highlights how this structure disrupts communication.
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Even when filmmakers and artistes maintain personal relationships, companies now control licensing decisions and block informal agreements.
Furthermore, Twitch notes that this system places independent filmmakers at a disadvantage.
Licensing fees for popular Afrobeats tracks often exceed what smaller productions can afford.
Film And Music Industry Gap
As a result, only films backed by major studios usually secure the rights to mainstream songs.
Meanwhile, independent projects miss out and must adjust their creative direction.
Ultimately, he argues that this separation between ownership and creativity has strained collaboration across both industries, making access to Afrobeats music more difficult for filmmakers.
