Filmmaker and music video director Dami Twitch has explained that Nollywood producers can no longer easily include Afrobeats songs in movies without securing proper permission.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Afropolitan podcast, Twitch said the situation is largely because many Afrobeats artistes have signed publishing agreements with international companies, making music usage more regulated.
He explained that getting clearance for popular songs now comes with costs that many independent Nollywood producers struggle to afford.
According to him, even personal relationships with artistes do not always help because contractual agreements limit what they can approve.
Twitch added that the growing difficulty is creating tension between the Nollywood and Afrobeats industries, as independent filmmakers may not have enough funding to cover licensing fees.
He noted that collaborations between both sectors are now in a complicated place, with only better-funded projects finding it easier to secure music rights.
