Over the last decade, YouTube has become the primary stage for the Ethiopian music industry. Due to the lack of a strong local digital purchasing infrastructure (like iTunes or Spotify dominance), Ethiopian artists rely heavily on YouTube for monetization, exposure, and charting success.
For many Ethiopian artists, YouTube is the primary source of income. With limited physical CD sales and a performing arts scene that struggles with venue availability, monetization via YouTube ads and the YouTube Partner Program has allowed musicians to quit side jobs and produce full-time.
To get full text:
Traditional & Sacred Roots: For centuries, music was defined by the Azmari (minstrels who improvised lyrics with the masenqo lute) and sacred liturgical music of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The "Golden Era" (1960s–70s):