Apple Uses Fela Kuti’s 1971 Song to Unveil Its Latest Macbook Air

 Fela Kuti’s estate is in for a big payday after global tech company Apple used his song in a new MacBook advert.

The global music community recently received a reminder of the staying power of Fela Kuti’s music after his hit 1971 single ‘Let’s Start’ with the African 70 Band & Ginger Baker was used by Apple in the advert unveiling the company’s q M5 Air.

The video clip has gone viral on social media and attracted reactions from fans who celebrated the use of Fela Kuti’s music and saw it as a testament to the Afrobeat pioneer’s enduring impact and legacy. The advert also generated interest from observers who pointed out the big payday the Fela Kuti estate will be getting.

The quality and impact of Fela Kuti’s music are immutable. However, what is even more impressive is the commercial and social relevance of his work, which continues to break new ground. It costs top dollar for Apple, the second most valuable company in the world license a song for the promotion of one of its premium and high-end products.

The licensing fee for the usage of Fela Kuti’s ‘Let’s Start’ would go to whoever owns the masters right to the song, which, in this case, based on information available on streaming platforms, appears to be the estate of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti under exclusive license to Kalakuta Sunrise Limited.