Are you struggling with your music career? Discover the 4 brutal reasons people don’t take you seriously as an artist and how to fix your artist branding, music quality, consistency, and fan connection for success.
Your Branding is Off: The First Step to Building a Serious Music Career
First, let’s talk about music career branding. If your social media pages are all over the place, people won’t take you seriously. When you don’t have a consistent image, your audience can’t take you seriously, and it will be hard to grow your music career. Nigerian fans want to see consistency. Look at artists like Omah Lay—his social media is clean, focused, and perfectly aligned with his brand.
To get serious about your music career, you need to ensure that every piece of content you create reflects your brand. Start posting high-quality content, show your personality, and ensure that your posts are cohesive and aligned with your overall image. Consistency is the first step to building a respected music career.
What you should do:
- Curate your social media pages with high-quality content.
- Use a consistent color palette and tone that aligns with your musical style.
- Post regularly to showcase who you are both as an artist and a person.
Once you focus on creating content that matches your brand, your audience will start respecting you more as a serious artist. It’s about consistency and professionalism, and with that, respect will follow.
Your Music Quality Might Not Be There Yet
Another reason people might not take you seriously as an artist is your music quality. Nigerians have high standards when it comes to sound. If your music production sounds weak or unpolished, people will quickly move on. And that’s something you don’t want.
Take Fireboy DML as an example. His music is known for its high production value, and that’s one reason his fans, both local and international, take him seriously. People can hear the quality in his tracks, and they’re more likely to take notice.
What you should do:
- Invest in a good producer who understands your sound and can elevate it.
- Don’t rush to release music just for the sake of it—take the time to perfect your sound.
- Seek feedback from trusted producers, sound engineers, or other professionals to help fine-tune your tracks.
High-quality music will always separate serious artists from the rest. When you level up your sound, people will start respecting you more.
Inconsistency is a Killer
If you drop one song and then disappear for months, your fans will forget about you. Inconsistency can be a career killer. Nigerians love artists who are constantly in their faces with something fresh, whether it’s a new song, a collaboration, or even just a teaser.
Look at Rema. He consistently releases singles, freestyles, or features, ensuring he stays relevant. Whether it’s a surprise collaboration or a viral freestyle, his fans are never left waiting too long for content.
What you should do:
- Release new music regularly, even if it’s not a full album.
- Share content often, whether it’s live streams, behind-the-scenes footage, or personal updates.
- Collaborate with other artists to stay in the conversation.
Consistency builds momentum and keeps your name alive in the industry. Without it, you risk becoming irrelevant.
You’re Not Connecting with Your Audience
Lastly, if you’re not genuinely connecting with your audience, they won’t feel invested in your career. Flexing or showing off might get your attention, but it won’t build a loyal fanbase. Nigerian fans crave authenticity—they want to feel like they know you as a person, not just an artist.
Take Wizkid for example. He doesn’t just show up for the cameras—he connects with his fans, shares his journey, and engages with them on social media. Fans feel like they’re part of his success story, and that’s one of the reasons they support him so passionately.
What you should do:
- Share personal stories about your struggles and triumphs.
- Engage with fans by responding to their comments or messages.
- Show the real you—people will relate to your honesty and vulnerability.
When your audience feels like they know you beyond your music, they’ll be more likely to support your career in the long term.
Conclusion: Fix These 4 Things and Watch Your Career Take Off
When you focus on improving your branding, music quality, consistency, and audience connection, your career will start to take off. Don’t expect instant success, but keep putting in the work and making improvements. Respect in the music industry is earned, and it starts with these four key elements.
Fix these four issues, and you’ll see a dramatic shift in how people view you as an artist. It’s time to take your career to the next level. Stay consistent, keep it real, and invest in yourself. Watch the respect follow.
