Afrobeats star Michael Adebayo Olayinka, popularly known as Ruger, has shared his frustrations over the Nigerian music industry’s growing emphasis on promotion over talent. Ruger expressed concern about what he sees as a trend of financially backed but less skilled artists rising to fame, regardless of talent.
On his X account, he noted, “No matter how poor an artist’s talent is, if there is sufficient funding for promotion, they can succeed.” Ruger also criticized some artists’ heavy reliance on autotune, particularly during live performances, suggesting it diminishes the authenticity of the genre. His remarks shed light on an ongoing debate about quality versus popularity in the industry.
