Afrobeats artist Daniel Benson, better known as BNXN, has offered a candid perspective on the ongoing debate surrounding the wealth gap between music stars and professional athletes.
During a recent livestream with streamer Ojo, the “Finesse” singer argued that while musicians enjoy significant financial success, it rarely compares to the staggering wealth accumulated by top-tier athletes specifically those competing in the NBA.
“I am friends with a few NBA players. These guys have so much money. Nigerian artists don’t even have as much money as them. NBA players are insanely rich. A player of Jaylen Brown’s calibre have so much money. Afrobeats are not close to athletes in terms of earnings.” BNXN said.
A reality check on industry earnings
BNXN’s assessment appears to be rooted in personal insight, noting that his direct interactions with NBA stars provided him with a glimpse into their financial standing. While he acknowledged the global reach and commercial success of the Afrobeats genre, he remained firm in his stance that, aside from the absolute top echelons of professional football, the average high-earner in the NBA operates in a completely different financial bracket compared to the average successful Nigerian musician.
By specifically citing Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown as a benchmark, BNXN highlighted the sheer scale of the contracts and endorsement deals common in American professional sports, suggesting that even the most prominent figures in the Nigerian music industry have a significant gap to bridge to reach similar levels of personal wealth.
