I read this well written article below by O O Nwoye, founder of GbeduFM, a music streaming services and found it interesting.
The article republished on TechCabal.com ( a site I highly recommend) gives an interesting analysis on music digital distribution in Nigeria. There is an Uduak commenter on the article. That person is not me but clearly Uduaks are smart people because he/she seems to have an interesting point of view, as well.
In any event, check out an excerpt below by Nwoye who advises he is a fan of AML.
Cheers,
Uduak
VALUE CREATION, CAPTURE AND NIGERIAN MUSIC (FILE) STARTUPS
I have always wanted to publish my ‘thesis’ on music (file) startups especially as it concerns Nigeria. I still do not have the time to do something comprehensive. However, as someone that spent quite a few years in this industry, anytime I hear another iTunes for Nigeria launching and relaunching, I get distracted mentally.
I am hoping by writing this long rambling thesis, that distraction will go away.
Please note that this was written in one go this morning. No time for edits or ‘cohesive writing’. I have Fonenode business pulling my ear. Sorry.
Let’s go.
Doing a pure download/file startup (ala itunes) is a mistake.
Creating a successful Nigerian streaming startup is kinda late now.
The only opportunity is focusing on discovery and ancillary unpiratable business models.
With all politeness, Nigerian music startups in general have added practically zero value to Nigerian music therefore it is going to be extremely hard to capture value where you have not created it.A model that depends on extracting money from from an artist after (s)he has become popular is quite wishful thinking.
The central revenue model of most music file startups is selling downloads (If you have no transactional revenue plan, and hope on advertizing to make it big, (LoL). Asides the fact that the approach to selling (by Nigerian startups) the music adds no value, it is anti to the success of the artist.
(Let me get this out of the way: iTunes has half a billion STORED credit cards and offers insane convenience. You are NOT iTunes).
Yes, I am saying selling music especially singles works against the interest of the Nigerian artist even the ones that have ‘made it’.
Take a look at this tweet by Don Baba J below
TechCabal has the full story.