Award-winning music producer and CEO of Vivace Records and Tee-Y Mix Productions, Tee-Y Mix, spoke on the sustainability of the Nigerian music industry at the ninth edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference, NECLive, in 2022. During the panel, he shared his concerns about whether the industry can maintain its global momentum if Nigerians fail to tell their own stories.
“One of my worries, really, especially with the Afrobeats movement happening now, is I’m hoping that we will be able to sustain it,” Tee-Y Mix said, referring to the current wave of Nigerian artists gaining international attention.
The producer emphasized the need to institutionalise the creative industry in Nigeria. While individual artists have developed their own strategies for success, he said, the industry lacks standardized frameworks. “We don’t have a formula that’s certain to work. Everyone is just doing their own thing through trial and error. We need to be able to support our own structures because that’s the only way we can get that momentum,” he added.
He further noted that the Nigerian music industry is bigger than just the international success of a few artists. For the industry to truly thrive, Tee-Y Mix suggested, homegrown structures and support systems are essential.
Reflecting on the cyclical nature of global music trends, Tee-Y Mix drew parallels to past waves such as Latin music and reggae, stressing the importance of building lasting infrastructure to sustain Nigerian music beyond temporary international attention.
Tee-Y Mix’s comments at NECLive 9 shed light on the challenges facing Nigerian music as it continues to reach global audiences, highlighting the critical role of local structures, documentation, and strategic planning in sustaining the industry’s growth.
