Popular Nigerian film director and photographer, Dammy Twitch, has opened up on one of the major challenges facing Nollywood filmmakers today — the high cost of licensing Afrobeats songs for movies.
Speaking during a recent episode of the Afropolitan Podcast, the award-winning creative revealed that many filmmakers are unable to use popular songs in their productions because most artistes no longer have full control over their music rights.
According to him, many Nigerian musicians have signed publishing and distribution agreements with international companies, making it difficult for filmmakers to negotiate directly with the artistes, even when they have personal relationships with them.
Dammy Twitch explained that in many cases, a filmmaker may want to feature a particular song in a movie, but the licensing fees demanded by rights holders are often far beyond the project’s budget.
He noted that the situation has created a growing gap between Nollywood and the Afrobeats industry, despite both sectors being among Nigeria’s biggest global exports.
The filmmaker added that independent producers are the hardest hit, as they rarely have the financial backing required to secure the rights to chart-topping songs.
According to him, only films supported by major studios or large production companies can comfortably afford the licensing costs attached to many Afrobeats records.
Twitch further stated that the challenge is not necessarily the artistes themselves, but the business structures surrounding modern music ownership, where labels, publishers and distribution companies often control the final decisions regarding song usage.
His comments have reignited conversations about the need for stronger collaboration between Nollywood and Afrobeats, two industries that have played key roles in promoting Nigerian culture on the global stage.
Dammy Twitch is widely known for directing music videos and creative projects for some of Nigeria’s biggest music stars and international brands.
Source: Afropolitan Podcast
