Is Kenyan music really doing okay?

A producer should not expect to get paid as quick as he should expect his cash if he fails to deliver. That’s how investors in music business argue but in Kenya, artists pay the producers for songs, period.

That can spare music lovers immature scenes like iLogos Music pulling down Singer Willy Paul’s song from Youtube.

Willy Paul like some male artists like who feel like divas, still want their songs produced and published for free.

iLogos Music, the producer behind Willy Paul’s single ‘Collabo’ claimed that the singer did not pay the production fee adding that they also had wrangles over copyright.

‘Collabo’ was Willy Paul’s latest hit until three days ago when it was pulled down after it emerged that he refused to pay production fees.

It’s a thing ailing the Kenya struggling industry. Even artists who pose as big names still dodge producers over production fees.

The ex-gospel singer refused to pay iLogos even after that they came into an amicable agreement.

The deal was to have iLogos Music produce three songs for Willy Paul, each at KShs. 25,000.

The producer met his end of the agreement but Willy Paul refused to pay him afterward.

“Willy Paul begged me to produce three tracks for him each for KShs. 25,000 per track for his songs ‘Magnetic’, ‘Digiri’, and his latest single ‘Collabo’” iLogos said.

He further complained that he has been ‘loaning’ the singer on other projects pushing the debt to Ksh 180,000.

“He has never paid for the tracks plus the production of his projects, he owes me KShs. 180,000. How do you complain about MCSK when you can’t even pay the producer.” iLogos posed on social media post.

He accused people like Willy Paul for the lacking progress in the game adding that the singer had to learn some lessons.

“This is why Kenya industry is not progressing. We have to stop this.” he added.

The frustration brought by such ugly acts is the reason both producers and artists get frustrated sometimes.

The blame is also shared in equal measures with phony producers and record labels who corn artists. Some producers want to be paid production fee and still follow up the artist to shows and other paying platforms in the internet.

Whatever the agreement but in any event, the artist wants to retain ownership of their masters and to receive a larger stake in the success of their songs.

But ilogos has also accused another Kenyan artist of the similar offence. Out of ten songs he produced for Singer Naiboi of Pacho records, the sondeka hitmaker released seven songs without paying a single cent.