LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Filmmaker and music video director Dami Twitch has explained why many Nollywood producers are struggling to feature Afrobeats music in their movies.
The celebrated producer pointed to rising licensing costs and complex international publishing agreements as reasons that has limited the use of Afrobeats in local movies.
Speaking during a recent episode of the Afropolitan podcast, Twitch explained that many popular Afrobeats artists are now tied to international publishing agreements, making it impossible for filmmakers to use their music without proper licensing and approval.
He revealed the situation has created a major hurdle for independent movie producers who often operate with limited budgets.
“Nollywood producers can’t freely use Afrobeats songs in movies anymore. Some artists have already sold their music rights, so adding their songs to films becomes difficult,” he said.
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Twitch noted that the issue goes beyond personal relationships between filmmakers and musicians.
He explained that even artists who want to support a project may not have the authority to grant permission if their music rights are controlled by publishing companies.
“Even if the artist is my friend, they can’t give me permission to use their song freely because they have already entered a contract. That is a major challenge in the movie industry,” Twitch added.
The filmmaker said the development has placed the long-standing relationship between Nollywood and Afrobeats in an uncertain position, despite both industries enjoying significant global success in recent years.
He pointed out that licensing fees for hit songs can be expensive, making them inaccessible to many filmmakers unless they receive backing from major studios or investors.
“The collaboration between Nollywood and Afrobeats is at a very weird place right now. A lot of producers can’t afford putting Afrobeats songs in their movies unless a big studio or investor supports them. Nigerian producers are mostly independent filmmakers so a lot of us won’t be able to afford it,” the producer stated.
For years, Afrobeats music has played an important role in Nigerian films, helping to shape memorable scenes and strengthen local storytelling.
However, Twitch’s revelation suggests that changing business structures within the music industry are creating new barriers for filmmakers hoping to feature chart-topping songs in their productions.
