Type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Music and Entertainment |
Genre | |
Founder | Efe Omorogbe (co-founder) [1] |
Headquarters | , Nigeria |
Key people |
|
Services |
|
Parent | Rio Africa |
Website | http://www.960music.com/ |
960 Music Group (also known as 960 Music), headquartered in Lagos, is a Nigerian record company, content owner, and artist management firm focused on providing diverse audio and visual entertainment across Nigeria. The company is headed by Mark Redguard. [2]
Independent record labels under 960 Music include Hypertek Digital (2 Face, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Rocksteady and Dammy Krane), Aristokrat Records (Pucado, Kamar Tachio, Ozone, Mojeed and Leriq) and Ultima Productions (Geoffrey Oji). On 19 November 2014, 960 Music Group announced the addition of Password to the label on a management and promotions deal. [3]
960 Music Group was founded in 2013. It is funded by Rio Partners, and is the first music group in Nigeria to acquire different music labels and bring them together to form a big diversified group. 960 Music is considered as part of the "new school" evolution of African Music. [4] In 2013, 960 Music Group acquired a 40 percent stake in Hypertek Records and Aristokrat Records, leading 960 Music to be listed on Nigeria Entertainment Today's list of the "65 People, Places, Events And Things To Watch Out For In 2014". [5] In mid 2013, Nigerian singer 2face Idibia officially signalled the end of his former label, Hypertek Entertainment, and launched a new imprint (Hypertek Digital) under 960 Music. [6]
On 29 November 2013, 960 Music Group, through one of its subsidiaries Hypertek Digital, signed Sir Victor Uwaifo. Uwaifo has over five hundred songs to his name, and was the first African to win a Golden Record. This move was to show that 960 Music is in the market to push through "old-school" acts whose relevance transcend the generational gap. [7] [8] Burna Boy also released his music video "Na So E Suppose Be" under the label. [9]
On 27 October 2014, 960 Music announced a partnership with Ultima Productions aligning the two companies’ interests in driving digital growth, breaking new music barriers, and creating new marketing opportunities for MTN's Project Fame West Africa Season 7 finalists. The partnership would initially focus on the A&R, promotion, marketing, distribution and monetization of the Season 7 winner. [10] It would also provide winners the opportunity to gain real-world experience after the show. [11]
Mark Redguard, CEO of 960 Music Group, remarked that he was excited to work with one of the biggest talent producing shows in Nigeria and firmly believes that the partnership would be one of the most fruitful partnerships the Nigerian Music Industry had ever seen. [12] Redguard continued:
The team at 960 Music understands that old formulas don’t work as well as they must in the digital age, and that we have to think differently to build a robust future for the music industry. Today, music companies and Media & Entertainment companies need to be more supportive of each other’s needs. This partnership begins that new era, and will help both companies thrive in the reality of the African Music Scene and the digital world".
— Mark Redguard, [13]
960 Music Group, in conjunction with Ultima Productions, has commenced filming a reality TV show with Geoffrey Oji. The show, titled Project Fame Unplugged, is a Behind the Scenes television series designed to showcase the making of the Geoffrey music brand, and get all access to his entire creative process. [14]
Under Ultima Productions/960 Music, MTN Project Fame, West Africa Season 7 winner, Geoffrey Oji, released his debut single titled 'Bursting My Brain'. The song was very well received by his old and new fans off the show. [15]
In February 2015, 960 Music Group released the compilation album by finalists of season 7 of MTN's Project Fame West Africa . The album, which was executive produced by Mark Redguard and Password, consists of 13 songs produced by Password, Cobhams Asuquo, Wilson Joel, Royal Priest and Prodo. The album was included in the March edition of MyStreetz magazine, and is being given away for free through e-commerce retailer, Konga.com. [16]
Act | Secondary Label | Releases (Singles) under 960 Music Group | E.P's under 960 Music Group | Albums under 960 Music Group |
---|---|---|---|---|
2face Idibia | Hypertek Digital | 3 | The Ascension | |
Dammy Krane | 7 | The Enterkraner | ||
Victor Uwaifo | 1 | |||
RockSteady | 2 | |||
Pucado | Aristokrat Records | 3 | Pukie The Great | |
Kamar | 2 | The Audition | ||
Mojeed | 5 | Westernized West African | ||
Ozone | 2 | Superiority Complex | ||
Leriq | 1 | |||
Geoffrey Oji | Ultima Productions | 1 |
Innocent Ujah Idibia, known by his stage name 2Baba, is a Nigerian musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, humanitarian, and activist. Noted for his vocal range, lyrical depth, and longevity, he is widely regarded as one of Nigeria's greatest musicians of all-time. He is most influential for the rise in popularity of Nigerian pop music in the 2000s, and his solo debut album Face2Face ushered in a new wave of awareness and reverence for Nigerian music amongst Africans on the continent and in diaspora. Prior to July 2014, he went by the stage name 2face Idibia. 2Baba is the first winner of MTV EMA Best African Act category in 2005, and is one of the most awarded Nigerian musicians in history.
Dare Art Alade – popularly known as Darey – is a Nigerian multi-platinum Afro R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, philanthropist, humanitarian and entrepreneur. He is also the son of the legendary African Jazz Musician and entertainer Art Alade and the creative director of Livespot360.
Project Fame, also known as Project Fame West Africa or MTN Project Fame West Africa, is a music talent TV reality show filmed in Lagos and aired in the West African subcontinent. It is a regional version of Star Academy reality series that was developed and is licensed worldwide by Endemol. The show used to feature contestants from Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, but Liberia and Sierra Leone have been dropped since the 2014 Ebola Outbreak. The show is broadcast by networks in these four countries and across the African continent.
Chinedu Okoli, better known by his stage name Flavour N'abania or simply Flavour, is a Nigerian singer. He began his musical career as a drummer for a local church. Flavour is popularly known across Africa and the world for his hit song "Nwa Baby ". He is currently signed to 2nite Entertainment.
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The Unstoppable is the third studio album by the Nigerian R&B artist 2face Idibia, released in 2008, through his label Hypertek Entertainment. The album was produced by J Sleek, Jiggy Jegg, Mic Tunes, Ozzy, Spanky with one track "Flex" produced by R. Kelly and featuring him on the track.
The Headies is a music awards show established in 2006 by the Hip Hop World Magazine of Nigeria to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry. The annual ceremony features performances by established and promising artists. It is broadcast live on HipTV to viewers across Nigeria. The 1st and 2nd editions of The Headies were held at the Muson Center in Onikan, Lagos State. Between 2010 and 2012, the awards were held at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos. Several media personalities in Nigeria have hosted the annual ceremony, including Darey Art Alade, D'banj, Dakore Egbuson, Banky W., Rita Dominic, M.I, Tiwa Savage and Dr SID.
Chidinma Ekile, known professionally as Chidinma, is a Nigerian gospel singer and songwriter. In 2010, she rose to stardom after winning the third season of Project Fame West Africa. Following the release of the music video for her "Emi Ni Baller" single, she became the first female musician to peak at number 1 on the MTV Base Official Naija Top 10 chart. In 2011, she released the Sound Sultan-assisted single "Jankoliko". Her eponymous debut album Chidinma was released through the music platform Spinlet; it was supported by the singles "Jankoliko", "Carry You Go", "Kedike" and "Run Dia Mouth". The album features guest appearances from Sound Sultan, Tha Suspect, Olamide and Muna. Chidinma won Best Female West African Act at the 2012 Kora Awards and performed "Kedike" at the ceremony. She is recently signed with Eezee Concept, with the release of a gospel song as a kingdom woman, titled "Jehovah Overdo".
Monica Ene Ogah, commonly known as Monica Ogah, is a Nigerian singer, the 2011 winner of the fourth edition of MTN Project Fame West Africa. As a prize, Ogah was given a record deal and her first album, Sometime in August, was released in August 2013.
Oyindamola Johnson Emmanuel, popularly known as Dammy Krane, is a Nigerian singer, composer and performer. In January 2012, at age 20, he signed a record deal with Hypertek Digital and 960 Music Group. He is most famous for his single hit "My Dear". Dammy Krane is known for his melodic voice, engaging lyrics and his exciting genre of African alternative music. Dammy Krane has received several nominations, including the Next Rated nomination. He won Rookie of the Year at The Headies 2012.
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, known professionally as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer. He rose to stardom in 2012 after releasing "Like to Party", the lead single from his debut studio album, L.I.F.E (2013). In 2017, Burna Boy signed with Bad Habit/Atlantic Records in the United States and Warner Music Group internationally. His third studio album, Outside, marked his major-label debut.
Hypertek Digital is a Nigerian based record label founded by recording artist 2Baba. The label currently distributes through Sony Music Publishing, a unit of Sony Music Group. The label currently houses recording music act 2Baba, Victor Uwaifo, and RockSteady. Artists formerly signed to the label, include Dammy Krane.
The Ascension is the sixth studio album by Nigerian singer 2face Idibia. It was released on July 21, 2014, by Hypertek Digital and 960 Music Group. The album is the follow-up to his fifth studio album, Away and Beyond (2012). It features guest appearances from Machel Montano, Vector, Bridget Kelly, Rocksteady, Dammy Krane, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Iceberg Slim, Kim Almarcha, Shurwayne Winchester and Fally Ipupa. 2face enlisted Leriq, Alton Berti, Bolji Beats, Dezay, Dnyce, Fabio Litto, Femdouble, GSol the Producer, Jay Sleek, Kodjo, Masterkraft and Rolly to produce the album. The Ascension debuted at number 12 on the Billboard World Albums chart and received generally mixed reviews from music critics. By having an album debut on the aforementioned chart, 2face became the first Nigerian artist to achieve this feat. The album produced three singles, two of which were released in the months leading up to the album's release. To promote the album, 960 Music Group placed outdoor billboards across 10 densely populated areas of Lagos.
Geoffrey Oji is a Nigerian singer and songwriter best known for winning the seventh season of Project Fame West Africa. He won the competition after years of consistently auditioning for the show. Geoffrey is currently under a management deal with 960 Music Group courtesy of a partnership between 960 Music Group and Ultima Productions. His debut single 'Bursting My Brain' was released on January 30, 2015.
Patrick Mathias, popularly known as Password, is a Nigerian record producer, singer and songwriter. He is best known for co-writing the song "Gobe" with Davido, which peaked at number 1 on MTV Base's Official Naija Top Ten Chart. He won MTN's SongStar contest with Don Jazzy. Password has continued to make his mark in the Nigerian music and movie industry and as a producer and songwriter, he has worked with multi-nationals and several A-list artistes whose songs are rated hit songs within and outside the country.
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Jeff Akoh is a Nigerian singer. Jeff rose to prominence after winning the eighth season of Project Fame West Africa, a popular singing reality TV competition which was held in late 2015. He won the competition at the age of 18, making him the youngest winner so far. Shortly after, Jeff was offered a management deal with 960 Music Group and Ultima Productions.
Aristokrat Records is a Nigerian record label owned by The Aristokrat Group. The label operates as a subsidiary of The Aristokrat Group, an African Media & Entertainment company. It units includes; Aristokrat 360, Aristokrat Publishing, and Aristokrat Lifestyle. On 11 May 2020, Universal Music France announced its partnership with Aristokrat Records, under the watch of The Aristokrat Group, as the label will now distribute under its label services Caroline France, and publish under Universal Music Publishing Group. As the joint partnership will also help discover and develop exciting new African talent, giving artistes and songwriters the opportunity to reach global audiences with support from Universal Music Group of companies around the world; say's Piriye in an interview with This Day.
The Aristokrat Group, headquartered in Lagos, is an African Media and Entertainment company, known for housing a record label and music publishing company, digital media company, tour and concert production company and a creative consulting and solutions agency. The company is headed by its Founder, Piriye Isokrari.