Akinyemi Onyoluwa Urges More Recognition for Songwriters, Producers
African music needs to give greater recognition to songwriters and record producers whose work helps create the hits performed by some of the continent’s biggest stars, Nigerian music lawyer Akinyemi Onyoluwa has said.
Akinyemi said many people still associate success in music mainly with performers in front of the camera, while overlooking the creative professionals who write songs and produce recordings.
He said the continent could learn from Sweden, where songwriters and producers have become important contributors to the country’s global music business.
“Everybody wants to be in front of the camera. But no, you do not have to be that,” he said.
Akinyemi said young people interested in music should understand that they do not necessarily have to become recording artistes to build successful careers in the industry.
A songwriter could remain behind the scenes while writing songs for established performers and earning royalties from their work, he said.
He argued that this could provide a more sustainable pathway for some emerging creatives.
“You could be that 17-year-old still based in your country helping to write hits for Sarkodie, for Black Sherif, for King Promise,” he said.
He said a songwriter could earn publishing and royalty income from successful compositions while continuing to develop their own career as an artiste if that remained their ambition.
Akinyemi pointed to Sweden as an example of how a country with a relatively small population can have a significant influence on global music.
He said Swedish songwriters and producers have contributed to major international records and generated substantial royalty income.
He argued that Africa needed to develop a similar appreciation for the people working behind the scenes.
According to him, songwriters and producers should be treated as important parts of the music-making process rather than as secondary contributors.
He said producers could have interests in both the master recording and the publishing side of a song, depending on their contribution and the agreements they enter into.
Akinyemi said producers could contribute to songwriting, melodies and the creation of master recordings.
He therefore advised producers to ensure that their interests were properly documented and that they were appropriately compensated for their contributions.
“It is that you’re usually always going to be tied to your creation,” he said.
He explained that payment should not necessarily be viewed only as a one-time producer fee. Depending on the producer’s contribution and contractual arrangements, there may also be interests connected to the master recording and publishing.
The lawyer said the issue was particularly important as African music became increasingly valuable internationally.
Akinyemi said the industry’s focus on performers such as Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy, King Promise and Black Sherif should not obscure the many professionals who make their success possible.
He cited international artistes such as Ne-Yo and John Legend as examples of performers who also had backgrounds in songwriting and production before becoming major recording artistes.
He said young people entering the African music industry should therefore consider careers in songwriting, production, publishing, management and other areas instead of viewing performing as the only route to success.
According to him, a stronger ecosystem for songwriters and producers would create more sustainable opportunities and ensure that more of the economic value generated by African music remains with the people who create it.
