Is Being a Music Producer a Good Biz?

Tawi .

6 min read

8 days ago

Behind every hit song is a producer — but how profitable is that role really?

By Kivaya Josiah

Kunta Official Beats is a music producer and audio engineer, currently one of the biggest producers in Kenya.

He has worked with Khaligraph Jones, Kalamashaka, and even the legendary KRS One.

But beyond the collaborations and recognition lies the real question, can music production actually make money?

In this breakdown, Kunta breaks down the business side of the craft, the challenges, the lessons, and what it truly takes to turn beats into income.

Prefer watching instead? Check out the full video here.

👉 Download the MESH App on Google Playstore. Ni 2MB!

What Is the Story Behind His Hustle?

Kunta Official Beats hakuanza kama producer. Alianzisha his journey kama a rapper.

Kama anavyo explain:

“I started off first as a rapper, tulikuwa wasee wawili, tulikuwa tunajiita Kunta & Kinte, but later nika venture into production once I realised niko na hio passion ya ku-produce, because I loved beats a lot.”

Hii transition into production ilianza akiwa chuom.

“So nika-get my first computer when I went to uni. That’s when I started my production. Actually, I am a self-taught producer. I never went to school to study production. Nimekuwa niki-build on that, just learning off tutorials, other producers who I have been working with and just improving on my game day by day. So hivo ndio nilicome nika improve up to where I am now.”

Kutoka online tutorials na hands-on collaboration, ali-built his craft step by step, bila formal training.

Who Was His First Client?

Before the KRS One moment, alikuwa ameanza ku-build international connections.

Anakumbuka:

“Actually, one of my first customers, who even reached out before KRS One, is my good friend and brother, all the way from the United States. Shout out to Chad hapa, my best client of all.”

Hio early international support ili-play a significant role ku-validate kazi yake beyond Kenya.

How Much Was His Starting Capital?

Like many creative entrepreneurs, yeye pia alianza small.

“The laptop nakumbuka nilibuy around 40k, it was a mini laptop, a HP mini laptop, headphone was around 5Gs. So capital nilikuwa nayo ya kwanza ilikuwa 45k. So that’s the basic capital I had when I started off production.”

Akiwa na approximately 45,000 shillings, aliweka msingi for what would later become a top-tier production career.

What Money Habit Has Helped Him Survive?

Kukuwa na financial discipline imekuwa a key to his longevity.

Ana-explain:

“Everything that I do, I have to save a little bit for the rainy days and the other is I have to reinvest in my gear, because gear nayo with technology inaenda ikichange — now we have AI. Still, I am back in school studying online so it’s all about reinvesting on something yenye ita-boost career yangu to go to a higher level.”

Kwake, saving na ku-reinvest ni non-negotiable. Technology ina-evolve haraka, na kubaki relevant ina-require continuous upgrading — both in equipment and skills.

Did He Ever Feel Like Giving Up?

Like many creatives, yeye pia hashawahi face difficult seasons.

One of his lowest moments ili-came time ya the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think one of the lowest points in my production career was during the corona epidemic, around 2020. Everybody was indoors, there was no interacting, so that was one of the lowest moments.”

However, yeye ali-chose ku-see opportunity kwa hii setback.

“But what I can say, ilikuwa like a blessing in disguise because hio time tulikuwaga indoors and ndio nilikuwa na practice a lot, working on my craft and honing my skills and once we came out, nilikuwa sharp na nilikuwa na jobs mingi sana after that.”

What seemed like a shutdown ilikuwa a sharpening season. And when the industry reopened, he was ready.

What Challenges Do Music Producers Face in Their Hustle?

Tulimuuliza the biggest challenges kwa hii hustle, Kunta explains:

“I think one of the challenges we face, especially as producers, is being able to recoup whatever we have invested.”

Studio equipment, time, na creative energy zote zina-require serious investment. Halafu, ku-get returns haikuwi straightforward. Anaongezea:

“Wasee wakitoa ngoma you are not able to get the royalties that you’re supposed to get. Kuna teething problems with our collective management organization.”

Another major shift imekuwa the rise of social media and Digital Service Providers (DSPs). Kunta ana reflects vile hii industry ime-change:

“Nilikuwa najua nikiuza a thousand CD’s at 100 ntapata this amount of money. Now, if we make a thousand streams, it’s not even... hauwezi hesabu hio doh.”

Juu ya hii riba, producers wamekuwa waki-adapt.

“So, we’re working around that. Now we are trying to be more independent, we are creating our own websites where we can interact with our audience directly na wa-buy music yetu directly.”

Kwake, independence imekuwa part of the solution.

Are There Low Seasons in Music Production?

Like kila biz, music production pia hu’experience highs na lows. As Kunta explains,

“Just like any other business, kuna high and low seasons. For most businesses zina pick up during the festive season – December, but for us I think that’s one of our lowest seasons. Actually, for us January is not that bad because people want to come and create around that time.”

So yeye hu-survive aje during slow periods?

Kunta anadiasha ina comes down to preparation na diversification:

“Zile vitu zimekuwa zikini hold up during the lowest seasons imekuwa the savings that I had. Nilikuwa nime-make savings because I don’t totally depend on music. I have other businesses that chip into my income, that I use when the season is low in the music production industry.”

Kwake, financial balance sio tu optional, ni necessary for long-term survival kwa biz.

When Did He Realize This Hustle Could Make Money?

A defining moment ilicome time KRS One publicly recognized kazi yake.

“KRS One gave me a shout out and recognized my beats as one of the best beats in the industry especially coming from Africa. So that KRS moment exposed me to the whole world up to where we are today and also I started working with Khaligraph Jones.”

Hii recognition ili-open major doors. He went on ku-work na Kalamashaka, earning two Grammy nominations, na kuanzisha his collaborating na international organizations, including the United Nations and other corporate institutions.

Recognition kwa hii level didn’t just boost his confidence — ili transform his entire career trajectory.

What Is the Biggest Lesson He Has Learned?

Baada ya ku-work na international clients, one lesson stands out clearly.

“One thing I’ve learned with international clients is keeping time and you can lose a client by not keeping time.”

Professionalism, he says, ndio kila kitu.

“It’s all about being professional. I love being professional, systematic and methodical in whatever I do.”

In a global industry, reliability separates serious professionals from the rest.

What Advice Does He Give Aspiring Producers?

Kwa msee yeyote anadaisha ku-get into production, his advice is clear:

“First thing is have passion in whatever you do, be consistent and love what you do, and what you do is going to love you back. That’s my motto throughout the game that I’ve been in the industry.”

Because in the end, music production sio tu just beats. It is about building a sustainable business.

Article