Senegalese-American music star, Akon, has said that many popular musicians are not as financially comfortable as people often believe.
He explained that although artists appear wealthy on social media and in music videos, a large number of them are actually struggling with money behind the scenes.
Speaking in an interview with Hip Hop Eye, Akon noted that the music industry is profitable, but most of the real earnings go to people working behind the scenes rather than the performers themselves.
According to him, artists are often the last to be paid in the industry, even though they are the most visible and famous.
“In music, the artist is usually the one who ends up with the least money but the most fame. If you want to be famous and broke, become an artist,” he said.
He added that those who want to make more money in the industry should consider other roles such as producing, songwriting, artist management, talent booking, or legal work.
“There are many areas in entertainment where real wealth is made. Artists are just the face, but the business side is where the big money is,” Akon explained.
His comments have sparked fresh conversations about how income is distributed in the global music industry.