As Sauti Sol continues their indefinite hiatus from group music activities, member Willis Chimano has shed light on how much it would now cost to book the band for a performance.
While each member focuses on their individual music careers, Chimano shared that the price for a Sauti Sol performance has significantly increased during their break.
Nearly two years have passed since Sauti Sol announced their indefinite break from music in May 2023 after an impressive 18-year career together.
However, the band has occasionally reunited for self-produced shows, with their most recent performance at the third edition of Sol Fest in December 2024, held at Uhuru Gardens.
The event, sponsored by Safaricom, featured performances from Sauti Sol, rhumba legends Them Mushrooms, and Les Wanyika.
Chimano revealed that the band now commands a higher booking fee.
“It would cost more now to book Sauti Sol to perform. If we are going to perform, it has to be worth the money.
Someone paying $100,000 (Sh13 million) would be wonderful, but not way below $100,000,” he stated.
This is a significant increase from their previous rates before the hiatus.
Entertainment journalist John Muchiri, who has closely followed Sauti Sol’s career, mentioned that the band previously charged a minimum of $40,000 (Sh5 million) for a one-hour performance before announcing their hiatus.
“Running a band is expensive. The costs of flights, hotels, and logistics for a performance add up,” Muchiri explained.
“When promoters pay for a band, they do so with the expectation of a return on investment because of the value the band brings.”
Sauti Sol’s breakthrough came in 2013 with the Safaricom Twaweza Live campaign, which marked the band’s first major earnings.
The seven-month campaign, which included concerts across the country, was a game-changer for the band.
“When we signed up for Safaricom Live, it changed our lives because of the amount of money we were given. That was the first time we saw a few million shillings,” Chimano reminisced.
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