{"id":232037,"date":"2025-07-08T00:45:55","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T00:45:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abianewscentral.com.ng\/if-davido-wizkid-others-collaborated-more-afrobeats-would-be-bigger-today-asa-asika\/"},"modified":"2025-07-08T00:45:55","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T00:45:55","slug":"if-davido-wizkid-others-collaborated-more-afrobeats-would-be-bigger-today-asa-asika","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/if-davido-wizkid-others-collaborated-more-afrobeats-would-be-bigger-today-asa-asika\/","title":{"rendered":"If Davido, Wizkid, Others Collaborated More, Afrobeats Would Be Bigger Today \u2014 Asa Asika"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If Davido, Wizkid, Others Collaborated More, Afrobeats Would Be Bigger Today \u2014 Asa Asika<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Long-time music executive and Davido\u2019s manager, Asa Asika, has said Afrobeats missed a chance to grow bigger globally because leading artistes failed to unite during the genre\u2019s early rise, choosing solo paths over collaboration.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Asika shared lessons drawn from over a decade in the music industry, contrasting Afrobeats\u2019 fragmented rise with the more collaborative approach taken by the Latin music scene.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe all know for a fact \u2014 Latin music is very big because Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Nicky Jam\u2026 they\u2019re all collaborating. That\u2019s a mistake we made.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf Davido, Wizkid, and everybody who was popping at that point were all collaborating, we might have been even bigger and more successful. Even ticket value, shows \u2014 everything would have been stronger,\u201d he said on the Afropolitan podcast.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_377379\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-377379\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-377379\" src=\"https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Fela-in-1988-AFP-Photo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"944\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Fela-in-1988-AFP-Photo.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Fela-in-1988-AFP-Photo-207x300.jpg 207w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-377379\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">In this file photo taken on September 15, 1988, Nigerian singer and musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti plays a saxophone. Saxophonist, pianist, singer with more than 60 discs, Fela created the \u201cafro-beat\u201d by mixing soul, jazz and traditional African rhythms. He died on August 2, 1997 at age 58.<br \/>STAFF \/ AFP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Since the rise of \u2018Afrobeat\u2019 pioneered by Fela Kuti, its subgenre \u2018Afrobeats\u2019 has grown to a global sound championed by stars like D\u2019banj, Timaya, Wizkid, Davido, and Tiwa Savage.<\/p>\n<p>In recent years, newer acts like Tems, Burna Boy, Rema, Asake, and Ayra Starr have pushed the genre further under the \u201cAfrobeats to the World\u201d banner, even breaking into top international music awards.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_768395\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-768395\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-768395\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"350\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Asake-Rema-Ayra-Starr-Burna-Boy.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Asake-Rema-Ayra-Starr-Burna-Boy-300x162.jpg 300w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Asake-Rema-Ayra-Starr-Burna-Boy.jpg\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-768395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Asake-Rema-Ayra-Starr-Burna-Boy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Asake-Rema-Ayra-Starr-Burna-Boy.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Asake-Rema-Ayra-Starr-Burna-Boy-300x162.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-768395\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">COMBO: Asake, Rema, Ayra Starr, and Burna Boy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But while its global presence is growing, some still question whether it matches the dominance of genres like pop, rap, or Latin music.<\/p>\n<p>One recurring concern is the lack of unity among top Nigerian artists. Unlike Latin stars, who often collaborate, leading Afrobeats acts have mostly worked in isolation with fewer expected collaborations.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_711448\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-711448\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-711448\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"351\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Davido-and-Wizkid.png 650w, https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Davido-and-Wizkid-300x162.png 300w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Davido-and-Wizkid.png\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-711448\" src=\"https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Davido-and-Wizkid.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"351\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Davido-and-Wizkid.png 650w, https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Davido-and-Wizkid-300x162.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-711448\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Davido and Wizkid<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Davido and Wizkid, for instance, have never done a joint project, and rivalries among big names still surface today.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Overpricing, Foreign Validation<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s unarguable that Afrobeats has gained global attention and many Nigerian artists have built their personalised, strong international fanbases.<\/p>\n<p>To maintain that image and standard, some now charge high-performance fees even at home\u2014sometimes matching international rates in currency like dollars\u2014leading to criticism from local promoters and fans.<\/p>\n<p>One of the key points Asika raised was a warning about the growing disconnect between Nigerian artistes and their core audience at home.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-519522\" src=\"https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Dollar-And-Naira.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Dollar-And-Naira.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Dollar-And-Naira-300x162.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He criticised the tendency among rising stars to prioritise shows in international cities over building sustainable local fan bases.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSomeone becomes a superstar in Nigeria, and the most important thing for them is doing a show in America. I\u2019m like, dude \u2014 you\u2019re running away from the fanbase that made you a superstar,\u201d Asika said.<\/p>\n<p>The music executive warned that some artists may be pricing themselves out of the Nigerian market entirely.<\/p>\n<p>He described a scenario where artists charge international fees locally, disregarding the economic realities of homegrown promoters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe should never be too big to perform at home. You can\u2019t tell a Nigerian promoter to match what MTN is paying you in Togo. That just doesn\u2019t sit right with me,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Veterans\u2019 Music: No Longer In Demand?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Reflecting on the career cycle of superstar artistes, Asika lamented that many music veterans fail to accept the natural arc of popularity and, by clinging to former levels of demand, end up harming their legacies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou go from being an artist with a big album every two years to releasing a song every two, three years. Not because you don\u2019t have music \u2014 but because you\u2019re no longer in demand.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of the mistakes people make is continuing to release music like they are the Ali status they were five years ago\u2026 and then you drop 20 songs and only one blows. That\u2019s diminishing the story you\u2019ve created for yourself,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n<p>The Afrobeats star manager advised artistes to embrace \u201chonest conversations\u201d within their teams and make strategic pivots guided by both data and intuition.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_628216\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-628216\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-628216\" src=\"https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Dubai-theatre.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Dubai-theatre.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Dubai-theatre-300x162.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-628216\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Egyptian artist Mohamed Ramadan performs in a concert at the Jubilee Theatre at Expo 2020 Dubai in the Gulf emirate on December 18, 2021.<br \/>AFP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>While acknowledging the growing role of analytics in the music industry, Asika stated that one must not let numbers override real-world feedback and gut feeling.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAny label I\u2019ve worked with knows this \u2014 don\u2019t just give me a sheet of paper. If a song is doing well in the UK, why haven\u2019t I been sent a video? I spend 30\u201340% of my time in London. I know promoters, I know DJs \u2014 I\u2019ll hear about it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>He explained that while platforms like YouTube and Spotify provide useful insights, they don\u2019t always capture regional or cultural realities.<\/p>\n<p>He added that an artist who trends on Audiomack in Nigeria may not be able to sell 1,000 tickets abroad \u2014 a discrepancy that raw data can\u2019t explain.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Industry Gatekeeping<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In the Afrobeats industry, many upcoming artists have complained about gatekeeping, saying it limits their access to opportunities and exposure.<\/p>\n<p>But Asika, who began managing artistes in his teens and has grown to co-found The Plug and help launch the likes of CKay, offered a larger warning for the next generation \u2014 urging them not to let ego, social media validation or gatekeeping stifle their growth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t get sucked into this world where you\u2019re no longer realistic about what\u2019s real and what\u2019s fake. That\u2019s what social media does. We need to build together, support each other, and stop gatekeeping. It makes no sense,\u201d the music executive stated.<\/p>\n<p>He stressed that Afrobeats must move beyond personal wins to collective victories \u2014 or risk stagnating just as quickly as it rose.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf we don\u2019t take advantage of this moment, we\u2019ll be here in five years saying, \u2018Wow, remember when we played Madison Square Garden?\u2019 We\u2019ve got to build structures and multiply success stories \u2014 not hoard them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Afrobeats,Davido,Wizkid<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.channelstv.com\/2025\/07\/05\/if-davido-wizkid-others-collaborated-more-afrobeats-would-be-bigger-today-asa-asika\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If Davido, Wizkid, Others Collaborated More, Afrobeats Would Be Bigger Today \u2014 Asa Asika \u00a0 Long-time music executive and Davido\u2019s manager, Asa Asika, has said Afrobeats missed a chance to grow bigger globally because leading artistes failed to unite during the genre\u2019s early rise, choosing solo paths over collaboration. Asika shared lessons drawn from over [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":232038,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[402,403,404],"class_list":["post-232037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-afrobeats","tag-davido","tag-wizkid"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/232037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=232037"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/232037\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=232037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=232037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=232037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}