Popular Nigerian singer Joeboy has said that breaking into the mainstream music industry is now more difficult than it was a few years ago.

He expressed deep concern for talented up-and-coming artists who are just starting out due to the development.

Speaking in a recent interview with Jay On-Air, Joeboy explained that breaking into the mainstream music industry now requires artists to be social media-savvy and to be some sort of influencer, unlike before, when good music and branding were all that mattered.

“I genuinely feel for artists that are trying to go mainstream right now because, unlike before, it takes a lot more, and it now depends on your personality and all of that. Because right now you have to be on everybody’s faces and all of that.

“Back then, if you had great music, a great brand behind you and great marketing, the chances of you popping up were really higher. But now, it demands way more than that,” he said.

The singer advised up-and-coming artists to leverage social media platforms like TikTok to promote their music.