I saw the report of the interview of MyMusic.com.ng team by CNN’s +Vladimir Duthiers this morning and I wondered if the guys have an inkling of the journey ahead for them. The incumbents in the industry, like Spinlet, are still trying to fight the strongholds of piracy and free downloads.
Please note I am not using this piece to discourage them but to make them aware of the tough terrain. This recent piece “Cracking Digital Music in Nigeria” by Rotimi Fawole should give you a fair idea.
MyMusic.com.ng, founded by three university friends – Tola Ogunsola (CEO), Damola Taiwo (COO) and Dolapo Taiwo, is an ambitious startup aiming to be the major online distribution channel for Nigerian music. The new digital service is focused on providing an easy and affordable way for music fans to access their favorite songs, which are often hard to find in one place.
According to the CNN report, MyMusic is designed to work similarly to other digital music stores, such as iTunes. But its payment options are largely catered to deal with the characteristics of the Nigerian market, which is mainly a cash-only society. Mobile phone users can select the song they want to download and pay instantly for it using their credit. Songs cost 50 Naira, or about 31 U.S. cents.
What is their strategy to win over the artists to put their music on their platform instead of on free sites like Notjustok.com or or even lindaikeji.blogspot.com?