Comedian and filmmaker AY Makun has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the alleged decision by Netflix to pause funding for Nigerian original films.

The debate began when filmmaker Kunle Afolayan revealed that Netflix had stopped commissioning Nigerian content. This sparked concerns about the platform’s commitment to the Nigerian market.

During a recent interview with Nollywood on Radio, Makun addressed the issue. He clarified that Netflix is not pulling out of Nigeria.

Instead, he explained that the platform is likely reassessing its approach due to ongoing financial challenges. He emphasised that this does not signal a loss of interest in Nigerian content.

“I recently had a meeting with Netflix, and at no point did they say they were leaving this region,” Makun explained. “During that meeting, we discussed my next project and how they could be involved. I don’t believe they’re leaving Nigeria.”

Makun highlighted that Netflix’s challenges in Nigeria are mainly rooted in financial constraints.

“If you’re running a business in a region and you’re spending much more than you’re earning, you’d need to reconsider your approach. That’s what they’re doing,” he stated.

The comedian explained that Netflix has invested heavily in Nigeria, far surpassing the revenue it has generated in the region.

He emphasised that the platform’s struggles stem largely from the low number of subscriptions and the widespread habit of account sharing, forcing Netflix to reconsider its business model.

“For instance, despite Nigeria’s population of over 200 million people, Netflix has only around 300,000 subscriptions, which indicates a problem that needs fixing,” Makun observed.

Furthermore, he elaborated that a significant number of Nigerians access Netflix by using shared accounts instead of purchasing individual subscriptions. This contributes to the platform’s revenue challenges.

“People often share one subscription with several others, and that’s part of the issue. It’s not just about the filmmakers,” Makun concluded.

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Nigerian pop music continues to make waves globally, particularly in the United States, where Afrobeats artists achieve groundbreaking commercial milestones.

At the forefront of this success is CKay, who leads as one of the best-selling Nigerian artists in the U.S. His viral hit, Love Nwantiti, has sold over 8 million units, earning its place as the most certified Nigerian song in the country.

The 2021 TikTok sensation is now on track to become the first diamond-certified Afrobeats record, solidifying its historic impact.

Following closely, Wizkid maintains a strong position as one of Nigeria’s most successful exports. His hit single, Essence, featuring Tems and Justin Bieber, has surpassed 4 million units in sales.

With eight RIAA certifications, Wizkid is the most certified Nigerian artist in the U.S. This feat highlights his consistent ability to captivate international audiences.

Meanwhile, Rema has secured third place with over 5 million units sold, driven by his global anthem Calm Down.

The record-breaking track, certified six times platinum by the RIAA, became the first African song to surpass 1 billion streams in the U.S.

It also achieved a peak position of No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest for any Nigerian song, and spent an impressive 52 weeks on the chart.

Notably, Calm Down was the first African track to dominate Billboard’s radio chart.

Other Nigerian stars continue to shine as well. Tems became the first Nigerian artist to debut on the Billboard Hot 100, while Burna Boy holds the record for the most Billboard Hot 100 entries by a Nigerian act.

Similarly, Davido made history with Fall, the first Nigerian song to earn an RIAA Gold certification.

These remarkable achievements highlight the undeniable global influence of Afrobeats and showcase the extraordinary talent of Nigerian artists with CKay making waves as one of the best-selling Nigerian artists in the U.S.

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