Ghanaian music star Stonebwoy has challenged the widely held view that international success among African musicians, especially Nigerians, is due to their ties with powerful record labels. Speaking on Asempa FM, he emphasized that the real force pushing these artists onto global platforms is not label affiliation, but the financial muscle provided by investors who believe in their talent.
According to the Burniton Music Group leader, many misunderstand what record labels actually offer. He clarified that while some contracts provide full-scale support — including marketing and production — others are merely licensing agreements that offer little beyond song distribution. For this reason, assuming that being signed to a major label guarantees international recognition is misleading.
Stonebwoy pointed out that the Nigerian artists who are currently dominating global charts have succeeded largely because of the strategic support they receive from independent backers. These investors, he noted, are often working behind the scenes to promote the artist’s brand across various platforms.
He also raised concerns about how much attention global record labels really give to African acts. Most major labels are headquartered in the U.S. and tend to focus their energy and resources on homegrown talent, making it even more essential for African musicians to seek alternative funding and partnerships to break through.
Ultimately, Stonebwoy urged upcoming African artists to focus less on landing record deals and more on finding genuine investors who are willing to fuel their growth and help them reach the world stage.
Source: NewsandVibes.com
