In 2010, Tinie Tempah debuted with his hit single “Pass Out.”
At the time, fans may have purchased the track, downloading it to devices like the iPhone 4 or the original Samsung Galaxy.
The song remains a signature tune for the rapper, but nearly fifteen years later, the music industry has transformed significantly, becoming considerably more competitive.
“It’s a way more of a competitive space,” Tinie Tempah shared with BBC Newsbeat.
“With a hundred thousand songs uploaded daily across various streaming platforms, that’s the current level of competition.”
“But I love a challenge, so that really excited me,” he added.
Tinie Tempah has embraced the evolving landscape, participating in DJ AG’s livestreamed street sets and performing on the latest season of Love Island, which has produced viral moments.
“A single post can change your life,” he stated.
“However, that doesn’t guarantee sustained success or career longevity.”
“A song can be popular today, but its follow-up might go unnoticed.”
“That’s kind of scary,” he admitted.
Fortunately, Tinie Tempah has faced less concern about fading from the public eye.
He maintains nearly five million monthly listeners on Spotify, and tracks like “Pass Out” (with 174 million streams) frequently appear on numerous playlists.
However, other aspects of the music industry cause him greater concern.
Like many artists, Tinie Tempah honed his skills in grassroots venues and clubs, which he considers a crucial training ground for emerging talent.
“These venues are essential for artists to accumulate their 10,000 hours, build confidence, and grow their fanbase,” he emphasized.
Recent data indicates that 400 clubs in Britain have closed in the past five years, representing over a third of the total.
“By 2029, we might have virtually no clubs or nighttime venues left in the UK,” Tinie Tempah cautioned.
“That worries me a bit.”
Conversely, some changes have been positive.
Tinie Tempah serves on the board of the Ivors Academy, which oversees the prestigious Ivor Novello songwriting awards.
At the 2023 ceremony, singer Raye spoke out against the practice of songwriters often being asked to work without compensation.
This led to a recent agreement with major labels guaranteeing a £75 daily session fee, plus expenses.
“It’s unfortunate that songwriters are often the last to be considered,” Tinie Tempah remarked.
“It’s encouraging that we’re finally discussing how to address this.”
“As an artist, I’m sometimes happy to create music regardless of monetary gain.”
“However, I understand that songwriters often travel long distances to work on projects that may never be released.”
“This agreement is a significant improvement from the previous situation.”
Tinie Tempah has also returned to songwriting, working on new music for the past three years.
He credits his hiatus with providing him a “new revitalised lease on life.” Seeing artists come through his northwest London recording studio daily inspired him to “get back on the train.”
The rapper has been performing his latest release, “Eat It Up,” a collaboration with Skepsis. He said fans approaching him to discuss memories of his catalog was also inspiring.
“It feels amazing that for more than half of my life, I’ve been giving people music that has been the soundtrack of their life and music they’ll associate with certain memories and emotions,” he said.
“If I’ve brought joy to this many people just by making music, writing the lyrics I write, why stop now?”
He added that his experience has prepared him for the challenges of standing out among the thousands of songs uploaded daily.
“I’ve seen people be interested, not be interested, be interested again,” he says.
“It’s all part of the process and journey.
“The main thing is that I’ve made music I really love and I’m really excited about and people get to hear it and get to live with it and that’s a beautiful thing.”
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