By Sound Cartel Empire | Entertainment
Nigerian music video director ThankGod Omori, popularly known as TG Omori, has revealed that some of the music videos he has worked on have cost more than $100,000 to produce.Omori made the disclosure during an interview on the Afropolitan Podcast, where he discussed the financial realities behind high-end music video productions and why the cost of a project can vary significantly depending on its concept and location.
Overseas Productions Come With Higher Costs
According to TG Omori, music videos filmed outside Nigeria can require significantly larger budgets because of additional production expenses.He specifically mentioned locations such as Los Angeles and Las Vegas in the United States, explaining that international productions involve expenses such as insurance, labour and other operational costs.
The director explained that these expenses are not necessarily money paid directly to the director. Instead, a large portion of the budget can go toward the various services required to execute a production abroad.
As a result, Omori said some individual music video productions can go well above the $100,000 mark.
When asked whether he was referring to individual music videos costing more than $100,000, he confirmed that this happens in many cases.
Nigerian Productions Can Have Large Budgets TooTG Omori also revealed that he has worked on music videos in Nigeria with budgets of around $100,000.
However, he explained that producing a project locally can have different financial dynamics compared with shooting abroad.
The director pointed to the availability of local artisans and production workers as one of the advantages of working in Nigeria.
With the right creative direction and supervision, local teams can help bring elaborate production ideas to life.
Omori noted that this can require significant personal involvement from the director, particularly when a project involves detailed set construction and production design.
The Cost Behind Music Videos
The revelation offers a glimpse into the amount of money that can go into creating the polished visuals audiences see from major Nigerian music acts.
A music video budget can cover far more than the director’s creative fee. Depending on the production, costs can include locations, crew, equipment, insurance, transportation, set construction, accommodation and other services.For international shoots, these expenses can become even more significant because payments and production services may be priced in foreign currency.
TG Omori’s comments therefore highlight an often-overlooked side of the Nigerian music industry:
the large-scale business and production operations behind some of the industry’s biggest visual projects.
With Nigerian music continuing to reach audiences around the world, music videos have also become an important part of how artistes present their songs and brands internationally.
Source: Punch Newspapers / Afropolitan Podcast
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