Nigerian singer Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma, widely known as Qing Madi, has described the music industry as being as lucrative as the “drug” business.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Tea With Tay podcast, the singer explained that artists can earn in one performance what many Nigerians make over several months or even years.
The 19-year-old noted that music has brought her financial independence, though she chooses not to display her wealth on social media to avoid it defining her public image.
“Music money is not normal, it is like drug money. I don’t think people know how… And I’m not the person who would buy stuff and put on the media because I do think that that would change the narrative of what I am to the media. And I don’t like people looking at me and seeing money. But I am rich.
“The average Nigerian works 9-5 and earns maybe N500,000 at the end of the month, while as an artist, you do one show and get N20 million. Music money is huge,” she said.
Madi also shared her view that Nigerians’ strong connection to music may be linked to limited access to therapy, noting that many people turn to music as a form of emotional relief and escape.
