Popular Nigerian comedian and filmmaker Ayo Makun, widely known as AY, has revealed that major Nigerian music artistes now demand between ₦80 million and ₦200 million to perform at comedy shows.
Speaking in a video shared on his official Instagram page, the AY Live show runner urged fans and ticket buyers to adjust their expectations and evaluate comedy events based on performance and laughter rather than the lineup of musical guest stars.
AY recalled the early years of his annual flagship event, AY Live, noting that top-tier Afrobeats acts—including Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Olamide, Phyno, and P-Square—frequently performed on his stage across major cities such as Lagos and Abuja. He explained that previous arrangements relied heavily on professional relationships, mutual respect, and modest financial compensation to cover logistical expenses:
“In those days, many appearances were made possible through friendship, mutual support, and the understanding that we were all growing together. An artiste would just accept any reasonable amount and find a way to genuinely support you, but the industry has changed.”
AY attributed the sharp increase in performance fees to the rapid global expansion of the Nigerian music industry. With major acts earning heavily in foreign currencies from international tours, digital streaming, and global brand endorsements, musicians no longer rely on domestic comedy platforms for audience reach or career visibility.
Addressing the financial strain placed on event organisers, AY highlighted that booking a single musical guest can sometimes exceed the operational budget of an entire production. He broke down the figures, sharing that during recent booking inquiries, one major artiste requested ₦200 million, another quoted ₦120 million, and an upcoming act asked for ₦80 million.
“We as the organisers still have to pay for the venue; we still have to pay for production, sound, screens, security, publicity, and the comedians’ staff. Sometimes, the fee that just one artiste is asking for covers the entire cost of production.”
AY clarified that his remarks were not intended to criticize musicians, acknowledging that performers deserve to charge market rates for their craft. However, he urged comedy promoters to build sustainable events centered purely on stand-up comedy.
Concluding his address, AY appealed to Nigerian event-goers to rethink the true value of a comedy ticket, writing: “If you buy a ticket to a comedy show, the primary promise is laughter. Maybe it is time we stopped measuring the value of a comedy show by the number of musicians on the bill. Let comedy be enough.”
