Why is FL Studio so popular in Nigeria?

Some may argue this point; but FL Studio (formerly called 'Fruity Loops') is Nigeria's most popular beat-making software. Just take a quick poll of producers from Lagos to Abuja, from Port Harcourt to Kaduna. FL Studio has become a staple item in Naija studios. Some producers in Nigeria use Propellerhead's Reason while others use DAWs like Cubase, Logic Pro and Sonar to synthesize their instrumentals but these are arguably in the minority. Here is an example of a Naija song made with FL Studio.

Whether Image Line (the company that makes the software) are actually making money from Nigeria is another matter. You can pick up a copy of FL Studio 10 for about 200NGN (slightly more than $1) on the streets. Below are a few reasons why it may be so popular among Nigerian producers:

1. The bandwagon effect
There is no doubt that what a producer you know uses can affect  what you will use. Very early producers in Nigeria from the early 2000s started using Fruity Loops (as it was called then), and everyone started using it too. This is probably the most important but not the only reason why it is so popular.

2. The hip hop factor
Most contemporary Nigerian songs have their roots in Hip hop, Dancehall and Afrobeat. FL Studio has been a strong influence for Hip hop producers from the days of Lex Luger and Soulja Boy. Do the math, more Hip hop influence means more FL Studio.

3. Ease of Use
This point is actually arguable. All production software can be easy or difficult to use, it just depends on the approach to learning it and the level of computer - savviness of the user. You cannot dispute the fact that to make a simple Hip hop beat, FL Studio can make a complete beginner feel like a pro! When you start getting into complicated areas like automation, well, let's just say it won't be so easy anymore...

4. Loop-based sequencing
Loop-based sequencing means you can just make a pattern and then make it play over and over again while you add other elements. This is as opposed to the linear sequencing that is done on DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) which can be cumbersome and take quite some time to layer the beats. FL Studio (yeah you guessed right) uses loop-based sequencing and this is an attraction for amateur producers.

5. Plugins, plugins, plugins....
FL Studio is a natural host for VST, Direct X and other types of plugins. This ensures that virtually any plugin can be hooked into FL Studio and its benefits enjoyed. Propellerhead's Reason has a proprietary file type and does not support VST plugins. This is a major battle won for FL Studio as there are millions of free plugins out there.

So...there you have it. FL Studio has come to stay in Nigeria. Image Line is will make a lot of money if we can have original copies of the software sold here in Nigeria. And for those who look down on FL and say it's inferior to others, just listen to any song produced by the living Naija legend Sarz. You will change your mind.

Comments are welcome and solicited. Thanks,