Category: Music Industry Insights
Analyses on the current trends, challenges, and opportunities within the music industry.
MUSIC CUSTODIAN IS A LIVING ARCHIVE
In an era where attention is fleeting and culture is often reduced to trends, Music Custodian exists as a living archive , we think of a space where African music is not just announced, but understood; not just amplified, but contextualized; not just celebrated, but protected. From its earliest days as a bespoke communications consultancy,…
Gospel vs. Secular Music in Nigeria: Does the Line Still Exist?
In Nigeria’s continuously evolving music landscape, the traditional divide between gospel and secular music is becoming increasingly difficult to define. As artists move fluidly between faith-inspired expression and mainstream success, the question is no longer whether gospel and secular can coexist – but whether the line ever truly existed. In Romans 12:2, the apostle Paul…
What 2025 Sounded Like: 30 Albums, Carefully Curated
As the year winds down, Music Custodian finds itself reflecting on the records that moved culture, sparked conversations, went viral, climbed charts, and ultimately soundtracked our year. Beyond numbers and accolades, these are the albums that lived with us, shaping moments and moods long after release day. 2025 was a defining year for music. Afrobeats,…
Kehlani Speaks Out on Rise of AI Artists: “It’s Erasing Songwriters, Producers, and Our Humanity”
In a new interview with @thecruzshow, Kehlani opened up about her concerns around the rapid rise of AI-generated artists — using viral AI R&B act Xania Monet as a recent example of how artificial intelligence is reshaping the music landscape. Xania Monet recently made history as the first AI artist to debut on a Billboard…
The Rebellion Lives On: Lagos Welcomes Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s Afrobeat Legacy
October 12, 2025, arrived with a familiar jolt of rhythm and rebellion as Fela Anikulapo-Kuti: Afrobeat Rebellion debuted at the Ecobank Pan African Centre — a triumphant cultural return of the legendary Paris showcase, now reborn through a distinctly Lagos pulse. What began at the Philharmonie de Paris has now been reimagined and rebuilt for…
Rolling Stone’s “250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century”: A Global Canon and the Call for a More Expansive Sound Memory
When Rolling Stone unveiled its list of the 250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century So Far, it wasn’t merely another chart exercise; it was an attempt to define the sound of a generation. The list, headlined by Missy Elliott’s “Get Ur Freak On”, is a sonic mosaic of the past 25 years — a…
Francophone Renaissance: From Dakar to Abidjan, the New Age of Rap & Afropop
At Music Custodian, we’re tuning our ears to new frequencies. As part of a fresh editorial wave, we’re stepping beyond the familiar rhythms of Afrobeats to explore the vibrant, genre-blending soundscapes flourishing across West Africa — with a spotlight on the often-overlooked Francophone regions. From Dakar to Abidjan, a quiet renaissance is reshaping the sonic…
Sebuleni X Chenza: Deep House Meets Benga in One Magical Night
Sebuleni X Chenza. Deep house X Benga. Vibe X nostalgia. If I had to sum up the night of 5th September 2025 at Muze Nairobi, those are the words I’d reach for. But honestly, they barely scratch the surface of what turned out to be a cultural feast—one that stirred up music, fashion, art, and…
How Afrobeats DJs Are Redefining Stage Energy and African Music Experience
In the ever-shapeshifting soundscape of Afrobeats, one truth rings louder with every drop and drumline: the synergy between DJs and artists is no longer a behind-the-scenes affair—it’s the beating heart of the live experience. From sold-out events in Lagos, Accra to seismic festival stages in Europe, London, Paris, and beyond, Afrobeats DJs have stepped far…
Spotify Introduces Custom Playlist Transitions for Premium Users
Spotify is rolling out a game-changing feature that allows Premium subscribers to add custom transitions between tracks in their playlists. The new tool, currently in beta, offers users the flexibility to either auto-generate transitions or manually create them using preset options, such as fade, rise, and blend. This marks a significant step in Spotify’s ongoing…