Bongo Star Diamond Platnumz has revealed that he generates a significant amount of revenue from his fanbase in Kenya.
The East African Superstar, who bagged Ksh 6.5 Million from the Chrome Invasion New Year Party in 2018, said that he made a lot of money from digital platforms such as YouTube where Kenyans consist of the majority of views.
Diamond urged his Kenyan fanbase to extend similar support to local artists so as to helo them grow.
It’s important for people to support musicians from their country. For example, I’ve gotten a lot of support from Kenya especially on my digital platforms. On YouTube, most views are from Kenya. If they can support me why can’t they support their own? I am making a lot of money from YouTube, I am making a lot of money. If I can make money then whey can’t other musicians do it?Diamond Platnumz
He also noted that there is money to be made in the music industry but the artists have to brand themselves as superstars and set standards. According to him, it is important for an artist to have a good team and lots of good hits so that they can be able to perform.
How you brand yourself is very important. There is money in music, if you want to make money you can and if you don’t, you won’t. How you brand yourself is very important. Have a set fee and if people can’t match up then they can leave. Don’t force people to pay you a lot of money if you cannot give them value for their money,Diamond Platnumz
Support for local music has been divisive with some expressing lack of quality music being offered. The rising wave of Gengetone music has been met with heavy criticism with the genre’s emphasis on explicit lyrics and mediocre efforts.
Kenyan rapper Khaligraph Jones has also gone on record about people supporting the local music industry. Papa Jones called out local radio stations for allowing Nigerian music for getting more airplay than local music in an interview with Soundcity radio station.
… the way you people are putting on your artistes it’s not the same way we doing it, cause Nigerian music getting more airplay in my country than our own local contentKhaligraph Jones