Kenyan Music industry
The Kenyan music industry is expanding quickly, therefore finding song producers and directors who can handle the industry’s tough competition is critical. However, the reality is that before you decide to visit the studios or hunt for a director or producer, you need to plan ahead as an artist.
This is for all the musicians who want to make the biggest hits. This is for the artists who chase their goals of having their peers listen to them in their favorite hangout both day and night. All of you musicians looking for a strategy to launch your musical career should read this because successful records require a budget. Of course, this assumes that you
Music production today.
Today, home studios are becoming more and more popular for music creation. Everyday people like you and I are creating great music in our bedrooms, garages, and basements… frequently using only a computer, a USB microphone, and some headphones. You can become famous overnight by recording a song, posting it online, and watching it go viral. Having said that, let’s now look into the costs or recording a song in Kenyan.
How Much Does It Cost To Record A Song In Kenya?
Depending on your needs and location, different different studios charge varying charges for music recording. For instance, some studios in Nairobi CBD like Melody House, the cost of recording a song ranges from Ksh. 15,500 to Ksh. 50,0000.
Basically, who you go to and where they are located will determine the cost of having your music recorded. For instance, producers who provide recording services in Nairobi and who also frequently have extensive industry experience would charge you between KES 25,000.00 and KES 40,000.00 each song i.e like Eric Musyoka and Magix Enga among others. Prices for other recording studios range from 20,000 to 25,000.
For producers located in Nairobi, things like popularity and the types of musicians they book are the main factors in pricing. As a result, the unpopular producers work for between Kes 8,000.00 and Kes 15,000.00 per song, while other producers who are just starting to understand the music recording and production industry may charge Kes 5,000.00 or less per song.
The cost can be as low as 5k per song in locations like Kisumu, Nakuru, Mombasa etc. Although it appears to be a better value, keep in mind market competition in general, visibility, and promotion when choosing a studio or a producer.
Factors influencing cost of recording a song in Kenya
When it comes to the audio production of your music, there are several ideas that can help you make sure your budget is manageable. These are:
The process of recording multiple songs:
Have you ever seen the phrase “buy five, get one free” in advertisements? or obtain two for the cost of one? The situation is the same here. More work is great for producers because it increases their income. Therefore, having an album or mixtape, which requires more work from them, provides you the opportunity to get a deal.
The amount of crew:
Keep your crew small and knowledgeable so as to minimize needless crowds since it is only audio. Single person recording normally is less costly than single audio with two/three or more artists in it.
The Producer:
Some producers can kill your morale as an artist. Find a producer who appreciates your skill and the potential of your music. The low costs tend to deter most producers, particularly given that Kenyan producers think Kenyan artists are unwilling to take risks for their work. You will succeed if you can find a producer who will take a chance on you based on your talent. You will also succeed if you appreciate the work of a producer when it comes to paying your recording dues.
Additionally, it’s crucial to have a variety of producers for your project given their roles, costs, judgments, and availabilities. Compare what they will need to accomplish with your song to the promotion. Choosing a producer should be dependent on the caliber and originality of the music audio they generate. By the time you choose one producer after approaching several, you’ll have negotiated the best price. This permits you to stay away from producers that prioritize profits over the quality of their work.
Using unpaid beats:
Sometimes, the music’s only redeeming qualities are its creators’ originality, ingenuity, and all-around remarkable talent. The artist just needs to pay for the recording, mixing, and mastering when free beats are used. That’s your lucky break because it will allow you to reduce the cost by 40 or even 50 percent.
The bottom line is that if you want to succeed as a recording artist and land a recording contract, you must organize your finances carefully. Consider your musical goals and potential gains. Even if you claim to be an artist while living your life on the road and having no concept what the music business is all about, your actions don’t support this claim. Alternately, you can take a chance and have a well-thought-out plan to record your songs that will establish you as a household name. Plan strategically and with sound judgment.
How much does it cost to record music at home?
It can be anywhere from Kes 50,000 – Kes 150,000 depending on how technologically sound your studio currently is.
You can use a new laptop with a few microphones as your recording studio, or you can go all out and buy soundboards and synthesizers.
How much does buying a song cost?
The average cost to purchase rights to a song will be between Kes 45,000.00 to 120,000.00 for an independent artist. Famous songs can cost even more. For corporate, just a short 10-second advertisement of a very popular song can quickly add up to Kes 200,00 or even more.
How can I license my own music?
In order to obtain a music license, you need to obtain permission from a legal entity that represents the artist’s work i.e Music Copyright Society Of Kenya.
Is it hard to make a hit song?
The number of one-hit wonders in the worldwide music industry begs the question of how challenging it is to write a popular song. Sure, the same musicians consistently release songs that are at the top of the charts, but every so often someone completely unrelated to them manages to score a big debut hit. Until something new appears and pushes it away, their music is played everywhere. After that, we learn nothing else about the artist for the rest of their career.
The fact that anyone may seem to have a hit, and that the same musicians seem to have found a recipe for success time and time again, shows that making your own music and breaking into the charts isn’t too tough. Today, it is undoubtedly much simpler for someone like you and me to sit at home, create a song, and see it do well on the charts.
Where can I submit music?
Free music distribution and free music promotion sites;
Soundcloud, Jamendo, BoomPlay, YouTube, Google Play, Bandcamp, Soundclick, etc
We are glad to hear your comment or suggestion below.
