Veteran Singer Baba Fryo laments poor music royalties despite hit song

Veteran Nigerian singer Baba Fryo has reflected on his early career struggles, saying piracy and poor royalty systems meant he earned little from his hit song Denge Pose despite its success.

Speaking on the origin of his stage name during an interview with TheCable Lifestyle, Baba Fryo explained its roots in Ajegunle’s street culture, saying:

“In Ajegunle in those days, anyone who bears Friday, you’d call him Fryo. You abbreviate the name,” he said.

On his sound and style of music, Baba Fryo described it as a fusion:

“For my own style of music, I would say I just chose to create different kinds of music… mine is an Afro Reggae beat because my song has been mixed with Reggae music and Afro music,” he added.

He reflected on his hit song ‘Denge Pose’ ,he said:
“Well, before I released Denge Pose, I had it in mind that people would hear it. But I did not have it in mind that it would go that far,” he said.

He added that recognition only came after the song broke: he “faced several challenges in gaining industry acceptance” before success arrived.
On earnings, he revealed:

“The first show I had was N100,000. But my company lied to me and said it was N40,000.”

He also said royalties were almost nonexistent:
“I made money through performance. But the main money is supposed to be through my music because that’s like an asset. But I did not gain anything,” he said.

He criticised his former label, Ultima Records, blaming poor compensation and piracy for his losses.

Despite this, he praised today’s Afrobeats growth:
“To me, they are pushing very well. Because if they are not pushing very well, people won’t know them and they won’t recognise Afrobeats all over the world,” he said.

When asked which younger artiste he would like to collaborate with, Baba Fryo said:

“I am not choosing anyone apart from Odumodublvck,” adding the interest came after the rapper referenced Denge Pose.

He also expressed gratitude for the acknowledgement he has received from music industry figures such as Don Jazzy and Daddy Showkey, who have credited him as one of the artistes that influenced their musical journey, saying:

“I feel good because someone like Jazzy, who has produced a whole lot of artistes could say such things; that means we too are great. It is something big,” he said.