How to Get Brand Deals as a Hausa Artist in 2025

When I was starting out I watched my cousin, Amina, sing at a small wedding in Kano. A young beverage rep was in the crowd. He liked her voice. He asked for her Instagram. Two weeks later she was in a short video wearing the brand shirt and singing a hook for a product post. The pay was small. The result mattered more. The video reached a new audience. Local event organisers started asking for her. That first small partnership changed how she approached every conversation after.

That is the point. Brand deals begin with a connection. They grow from consistency, proof, and careful pitching. This guide shows you how to build that path step by step. It is for Hausa and Arewa artists who want practical ways to find sponsorship, protect their work, and earn from their music and influence in Hausa music 2025.

Why brand deals matter for Hausa artists in 2025

The music economy has changed. Streaming pays slowly for most artists. Live shows help. Brand partnerships pay directly and can fund a release, a tour, or a studio upgrade. A good sponsorship gives you money, reach, and sometimes production support. A bad one wastes time, limits your freedom, and can damage your reputation.

This guide covers everything you need to start getting proper Hausa artist brand deals, from the first press kit to negotiation and delivery.

Recommended read for you: How to Build a Unique Brand as an Upcoming Hausa Artist

Quick overview: the steps we will cover

1. Build your foundation and identity
2. Create a press kit and proof of reach
3. Find the right brands and contacts
4. Prepare pitches and pricing that make sense
5. Negotiate contracts and protect your rights
6. Deliver, report, and grow long term

Each section below gives a step-by-step plan you can use today.

1. Build your foundation and identity

Brands sign people they trust. That trust comes from a clear artistic identity, consistent content, and a known audience.

Step by step

1. Decide your public image. Choose 3 words that describe your music and persona. Example: warm, modern, Arewa.
2. Standardise your visuals. Have one profile photo, one logo or artist mark, and a consistent color palette for posts.
3. Publish a steady cadence. Aim for at least two quality posts per week and one music release every 6 to 12 weeks.
4. Collect audience details. Where are your followers from. What ages. Which songs get the most plays. Use these numbers in pitches.
5. Maintain a simple brand guideline. One sheet that says what you wear on shoots, your stage look, and what you will not promote.

Real-world tip

If you sing in Hausa and English mix, make that a selling point. Brands that want northern Nigeria reach will prefer a bilingual artist.

2. Make a press kit and media assets brands can use

A press kit is a short folder brands can glance through and understand quickly.

What to include

• One page artist bio. 3 short paragraphs. Mention origin, influences, and most recent projects.
• High resolution photos. At least three, with usage permission for the brand deal.
• One-page stats snapshot. Followers, monthly listeners, top cities, average video views.
• Links to top 2 to 3 tracks and 2 to 3 best-performing videos.
• Past work. Short list of prior partnerships, events, or playlist features.
• Contact and management info. Phone, email, and your payment details or preferred invoicing method.

How to format

• Save as PDF and also keep a web version on a single link. Use a short URL you can paste in messages.
• Keep the file under 3 MB to avoid email bounce.

3. Gather the right metrics and present them clearly

Brands look for proof. They want to see reach and response.

Key metrics to collect

• Social followers by platform.
• Average views or impressions per post.
• Monthly listeners on streaming platforms.
• Engagement rate per post. To calculate engagement rate use this formula:
  1. Add likes, comments, shares for the post.
  2. Divide by follower count.
  3. Multiply by 100 to get percent.

Example calculation shown digit by digit

Suppose a post gets 1,500 likes plus comments and shares combined 200. Total interactions = 1,500 + 200 = 1,700.
Followers = 50,000.
Engagement rate = (1,700 / 50,000) × 100. First do the division: 1,700 ÷ 50,000 = 0.034. Multiply by 100 gives 0.034 × 100 = 3.4 percent.
Report that as 3.4% engagement.

What brands care about

• Audience location. If 70 percent of your listeners are in Kano, say that.
• Content format that works. If short clips do better than long videos, explain it.
• Past performance for similar products. Share a short result if you have one.

4. How to find brands and people who pay

Most deals come from relationships. Start with the low friction options.

Sources to try now

• Local businesses. Small beverage companies, telecom agents, fashion labels, event planners.
• PR and activation agencies in Lagos and Abuja. They often need local faces.
• Music playlists and radio promotions that offer sponsored posts.
• Brand activations at festivals, markets, and university events.
• Direct message on LinkedIn to marketing managers. Keep it professional.

Outreach checklist

1. Make a short list of 10 target brands. Include contact names.
2. For each brand write a one-line reason why you are a fit.
3. Send a short email or LinkedIn message with your press kit link and one suggested idea. No long essays.
4. Follow up once after one week. Keep follow up polite and brief.

5. Pitching and pricing — how to ask for money and what to offer

The pitch is the bridge between interest and a contract.

Pitch structure

1. Subject line that names the opportunity. Example: Collaboration proposal — Aisha Sadiq x [Brand]
2. Opening sentence: one line about who you are.
3. One line about why you are a fit. Use audience fact.
4. Offer: two package options. Keep them simple.
5. Ask for a call or reply to move forward.
6. Add your press kit link and contact.

Sample pitch subject and body

Subject: Collaboration proposal — Aisha Sadiq x [Brand]
Body: Hello [Name], my name is Aisha Sadiq. I am a Hausa singer from Kano with 50,000 followers and 120,000 monthly listeners on streaming platforms. I see [brand] working to reach young shoppers in Kano and Kaduna. I propose two options. Option A: one branded IG post, two 30-second Reels, and a 1-minute story mention, delivered in 10 days. Option B: Option A plus a 5-minute stage performance at [event] and exclusive one-month content rights. My press kit is here [link]. If you are interested I will send full rates and a draft contract. Best regards, Aisha. [phone]

Pricing method with example

I recommend pricing in parts. Break the fee into three sums: content creation fee, usage fee, and appearance fee if any. Use this method.

Formula and example calculated digit by digit

• Step 1 find follower thousands. For 50,000 followers do 50,000 ÷ 1,000 = 50.
• Step 2 choose base per 1,000 followers. Example base = ₦3,000 per 1,000. Multiply 50 × 3,000 = 150,000. This is the base fee.
• Step 3 adjust for engagement. If engagement is 3.4 percent, use a multiplier of 1.1. Multiply 150,000 × 1.1 = 165,000.
• Step 4 add content production fee. Example = 20,000. Add 165,000 + 20,000 = 185,000.
• Step 5 add usage fee for brand rights. Example usage fee 20 percent of subtotal. Compute 20 percent of 185,000. First compute 10 percent: 185,000 ÷ 10 = 18,500. Double that for 20 percent: 18,500 × 2 = 37,000. Add to subtotal: 185,000 + 37,000 = 222,000.
• Final example fee = ₦222,000 for the single post package.

State clearly that this is an example. Local markets vary.

Offer packages

• Starter package. Single post, two stories, 7-day usage rights.
• Campaign package. 3 posts, 6 short clips, influencer appearance, 3-month usage rights.
• Long-term ambassadorship. 12-month partnership with defined deliverables and KPIs.

6. Negotiate and protect your rights

Never sign the first draft without checking these items. Always have terms in writing.

Contract checklist

• Deliverables. What you will produce and when.
• Payment schedule. 50 percent up front for production. Balance on delivery or fixed days after invoice.
• Usage rights. Define the duration and platforms the brand can use your work. Specify if they can edit your music or voice.
• Exclusivity. If the brand demands exclusivity, ask for a premium.
• Cancellation. What happens if the brand cancels.
• Performance reporting. Brand will share reach numbers after the campaign. Include this if you plan to claim performance bonus.
• Intellectual property. Who owns the content and music stems.
• Penalties for late payment. State clear fees or interest.
• Signature lines for both parties.

Red flags

• Brand insists on unlimited usage worldwide for all time for a tiny fee.
• Requests private account logins or control of your social channels.
• Demand for unpaid rehearsal or appearance promises with no deposit.
• Vague scope with big demands.

7. Deliver, measure, and scale

A successful campaign earns you repeat business.

Delivery checklist

1. Confirm final brief in writing.
2. Produce draft content and allow brand 48 to 72 hours for review.
3. Post within agreed window and collect all links and screenshots.
4. Make a simple report: reach, views, clicks if possible, impression numbers. Send it within 7 days.
5. Ask for a testimonial quote from the brand you can use in future pitches.

How to turn one deal into many

• Ask for referrals to other brands.
• Offer a discount for second campaign within six months.
• Offer bundles for multiple branches or locations.

Suggested article for you: How to Record Professional-Quality Music at Home (Budget Friendly)

Case study — a short story of a Hausa artist

Case: Aliyu Musa from Zaria
Aliyu had 20,000 followers and a steady weekly live show in Zaria. He made a one page press kit and pitched four local beverage distributors. He offered two packages. One distributor chose a three post package. Aliyu asked for 50 percent deposit. He produced one rehearsal video and two short clips. The brand shared sales footage from five retail points showing a spike the week after the posts. Aliyu used those numbers in his next pitch to a telecom brand. He asked for a higher fee and secured a longer campaign with better rights. The key moves were consistent measurement, asking for deposits, and getting campaign performance in writing.

Quotes from industry people and fans

“A clear press kit and honest numbers are everything. Brands do not buy promises. They buy predictable reach.”
— Sadiq Bello, brand manager, Lagos

“I follow Hausa artists for new music. If I see them in a brand post and the song is catchy I look them up. That’s how I found new releases.”
— Fatima, fan, Kaduna

“Start with small local brands. Do good work. Use those results to ask bigger players for more.”
— Hassan Suleiman, music PR

Actionable insights — what to do today

• Create a one page press kit and upload it as a PDF link.
• Make a list of 10 local brands and write one-line reasons for each.
• Pick one realistic pricing package and calculate a fee using the formula above.
• Send three short pitches this week and follow up once.
• After delivery, prepare a simple report you can reuse.

FAQ

Closing thoughts

Getting brand deals as a Hausa artist is practical work. It requires steady music, clear presentation, careful metrics, and a simple negotiation process. Small deals lead to bigger ones when you track performance and keep deliverables clear.

If you apply one part of this guide every week you will see opportunities grow. Begin with the press kit. Make three pitches. Keep your work professional.

Call to action

Share your experiences in the comments. If you have a draft press kit paste a short link or describe one challenge. I will respond with specific suggestions and a quick template edit. Share this post with another Arewa artist who needs a simple path to sponsorship.