Rising Afrobeats star Qing Madi has described earnings in the music industry as unusually massive, likening it to “drug money” due to the scale of financial rewards artists can earn.
Speaking on the Tea With Tay podcast, the 19-year-old singer, born Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma, said a single performance could fetch an artist what many Nigerians earn in a year, underscoring the industry’s profitability.
“Music money is not normal; it is like drug money… The average Nigerian works 9-5 and earns maybe N500,000 monthly, while an artist can make N20 million from one show,” she said.
Despite her financial success, Qing Madi noted she avoids flaunting wealth publicly to prevent being defined by money.
She added that Nigerians’ deep connection to music is partly due to limited access to therapy, making music a form of emotional escape and expression.
