Why footballers earn more than musicians, by Skales
Afrobeats singer Skales has said professional footballers earn significantly more than musicians, pointing to the structured and consistent income system in football compared to the unpredictable nature of the music
Afrobeats singer Skales has said professional footballers earn significantly more than musicians, pointing to the structured and consistent income system in football compared to the unpredictable nature of the music industry.
Speaking on The Groovy Mono Show, as reported by The Nation on Monday, the ‘Shake Body’ crooner drew a sharp contrast between both careers.
“Footballers earn more money than musicians,” he said.
Skales explained that football provides financial stability even for players who are not globally recognised.
“As long as you are an active footballer and you’re playing, you’re earning salaries and bonuses. You don’t have to be the most popular player in the world,” he added.
He contrasted this with the highly competitive and volatile nature of the music industry.
“Music is very competitive and unpredictable. You can be here today and gone tomorrow,” he noted, adding that staying relevant in the industry is often beyond an artist’s full control.
“Staying relevant in the music industry sometimes feels like something you can’t fully control,” Skales said.
The singer shared a personal experience to buttress his point, revealing he once lost a major endorsement deal that was linked to a footballer.
"A company mailed me about a $300,000 jewelry piece they wanted Lamine Yamal to wear… and said they’d happily let me have it if I was interested”, he said.
According to him, footballers enjoy lucrative endorsement opportunities regardless of their level of global fame.
“Footballers get endorsement deals even if they’re not globally famous,” he explained.
Skales acknowledged that while a few Nigerian artists have achieved massive financial success, many others struggle with inconsistent earnings.
“Only a few artists make a lot of money, but many are struggling to earn consistently,” he said.
He concluded that football provides a more reliable pathway to financial stability for those who succeed professionally.
“Football gives you a more reliable path to financial stability if you make it professionally,” Skales stated.
