Universal Music Group Nigeria | |
---|---|
Parent company | Universal Music Group |
Founded | 2017 |
Distributor(s) | Universal Music Distribution |
Genre | Afrobeats, Pop, Hip-hop |
Country of origin | Nigeria |
Location | Lagos, Nigeria |
Official website | universalmusic |
Universal Music Group Nigeria (UMGNG) is the West African division of the global record label Universal Music Group. [1] Founded in 2017, it has its corporate headquarters located in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. The label has signed at least seventeen artists from various African countries. [1] [2] UMGNG is engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content. [1]
In 2020, Billboard Magazine named UMG Nigeria as one of The Gatekeepers of the Nigerian music industry. [3]
Universal Music Group Nigeria was founded on 17 July 2018, as a flagship of Universal Music Group, and a division of Universal Music Africa. Following the launching of the imprint, UMG appoint's Ezegozie Eze Jr., the former executive at South African-based music station, Channel O, as the General Manager of Universal Music Group Nigeria. [4] UMGNG began operation with WurlD, Odunsi (the Engine), Tay Iwar, Cina Soul and Stonebwoy, as its first recording artist. The label also signed Mr Eazi, co-signed Tekno in conjunction with Island Records UK and Vanessa Mdee in conjunction with AfroForce1 Records, Universal Music Central Europe, and Universal Music South Africa. [4]
On 30 April 2019, Demi Grace joined Universal Music Group Nigeria artist roaster. [5] On 8 November 2019, Idahams signed with Universal Music Group Nigeria, in conjunction with Grafton Entertainment. [6] Shortly after the announcement, he released his first single "Billion Dollar", under Universal Music Group Nigeria. [6]
Ezegozie Eze Jr. served as the general manager of Universal Music Group Nigeria since 2017 and stepped down from his position in the second quarter of 2020. Eze participated in the signing of WurlD, Odunsi (the Engine), Tay Iwar, Cina Soul, Stonebwoy, Mr Eazi, Tekno, Vanessa Mdee, Demi Grace, Idahams, IDYL, Larry Gaaga, Alpha P, Tomi Owó, Nonso Bassey, and Nasty C, to Universal Music Group Nigeria. In 2020, Chinedu Okeke, the co-founder of Gidi Culture Festival, and Eclipse Live Africa assumed control over the label until an announcement commenced on 4 January 2021, appointing him, as the general manager of Universal Music Group Nigeria, [7] and resigned from his position in August 2021. [8]
In 2018, Universal Music Group announced a multi-year licensing agreement with Boomplay – a major African music digital download and streaming service. The licensing agreement enabled Boomplay to stream UMGNG's music catalog across several African states including Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi and Zambia. [9]
In 2019, UMG became the first major music company to license its substantial music catalog to uduX music, a platform that offers its users access to high-quality music and videos. The partnership between the service and the label is intended to extend the reach of Universal Music Group and make the music of its global recording artists more accessible. [10] [11] [12]
Universal Music Group Nigeria operates business divisions that co-exist with its music, music publishing, and audiovisual content divisions. [1] These units include ULive Africa (the live events and production company), UMG Live Africa (the talent booking and management division) and UMGB (the creative and brand partnerships division).
ULive Africa, founded in 2016, is a promotes, produces, and invests in live entertainment. The entity is engaged in staging, programming, producing, and hosting large-scale events and live concerts. [1] [13] In 2018, ULive Africa produced the Lagos leg of the Major Lazer Soundsystem Live tour, as well as Adekunle Gold’s three-night residency at Terra Kulture titled AG Live. [14] [15]
UMG Live Africa was launched in 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is the talent and booking management division of Universal Music Group and consists of both UMG and non-UMG artists. [1]
Universal Music Group and Brands (UMGB) is the creative and brand partnerships division of Universal Music Group. [1]
Vanessa Hau Mdee, is a Tanzanian singer, rapper, television personality and radio host. Mdee is popularly known for being the first ever Tanzanian MTV VJ. She later rose to prominence as a radio and TV host, hosting Epic Bongo Star Search and Dume Challenge for ITV Tanzania before signing to B'Hits Music Group in late 2012.
Livingstone Etse Satekla, better known by his stage name Stonebwoy, is a Ghanaian Afropop, dancehall and reggae musician.
Tamunotonye Soipiriala Adonye Ibiama, commonly known as Tonye Ibiama or Big T is a UK-based Nigerian talent manager, music executive, and businessman. He is the founder, CEO and head of Grafton Entertainment and has helped launch the careers of many famous artists including De Indispensables, M Trill, Idahams, Tha IBZ, and Mr. 2Kay.
Augustine Miles Kelechi Okechukwu, popularly known as Tekno, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter and Record producer. His song “Enjoy” was the closing song in an episode of the Emmy-winning TV series Ted Lasso.
Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, better known by his stage name Mr Eazi, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record executive. He is the pioneer of Banku music, a fusion of sound he describes as a mixture of Ghanaian highlife and Nigerian chord progressions and patterns. Mr Eazi relocated to Kumasi in 2008 and enrolled at KNUST, where he began booking artists to perform at college parties. He showed interest in music after recording a guest verse on "My Life", a song that gained traction and became a popular record at KNUST. Mr Eazi released his debut mixtape About to Blow in 2013. He gained an international audience following the release of the Efya-assisted single "Skin Tight". His second mixtape, titled Life Is Eazi, Vol. 1 – Accra To Lagos, was released in 2017.
Christie Quincyna Quarcoopome, also known in showbiz as Cina Soul, is a Ghanaian singer-songwriter and recording artist. A finalist at the 2014 Vodafone Ghana Music Icons competition held in Accra, Ghana.
"Let Me Live" is a song by English drum and bass band Rudimental and American DJ trio Major Lazer, featuring guest vocals from English singer Anne-Marie and Nigerian singer Mr Eazi. The song was released as a digital download on 15 June 2018, as the third single from Rudimental's third studio album, Toast to Our Differences (2019). The song was written by Thomas Pentz, Philip Meckseper, Jasper Helderman, Kesi Dryden, Piers Aggett, Amir Amor, Leon Rolle, Cesar Ovalle Jr., Bas van Daalen, Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade and Anne-Marie.
Boomplay, or Boomplay Music, is an Africa-focused media streaming and download service. Developed by Transsnet Music Limited, the platform was first launched in Nigeria in 2015 by TECNO Mobile, Transsion Holdings. Boomplay has a freemium and subscription based service; basic features are free with advertisements or limitations, while additional features, such as download for offline play and ad-free listening are offered via paid subscriptions. The service is currently available for Web via www.boomplay.com, Android and iOS use. As of August 3, 2018, Boomplay Music recorded 10 million installations off the Google Play and App store. It currently has over 75 million monthly users (MAU) with a catalogue of over 100 million songs by 7.5 million artists.
Chinonso Obinna Amadi is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and music producer. He is a self-taught songwriter and music producer who embarked on his music career in 2012, while at Covenant University, where he studied chemical engineering. His currently signed to UMG Canada, Def Jam Recordings, UMG Nigeria, Polydor, and MCA Records France.
Afrobeats is an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora that initially developed in Nigeria, Ghana, and the UK in the 2000s and 2010s. Afrobeats is less of a style per se, and more of a descriptor for the fusion of sounds flowing majorly out of Nigeria. Genres such as hiplife, jùjú music, highlife and naija beats, among others, were amalgamated under the "Afrobeats" umbrella.
Chukwunonso Anozuma Bassey Iwuchukwu, popularly known as Nonzo Bassey, and formerly known as Nonso Bassey, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, actor and model. He was among the top 8 finalists in the maiden edition of The Voice Nigeria and was signed to Universal Music Group Nigeria. He is also a cast member on Africa Magic TV's telenovela, Battleground. Prior to August 2022, he went by the stage name Nonso Bassey.
Celia is the third studio album by Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage. It was released on 27 August 2020 by Motown, Island Records, and Universal Music Group.
The Aristokrat Group, headquartered in Port Harcourt, 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.
Love Is Contagious is the second extended play by Nigerian Afro-soul recording artist Wurld. It was released on 28 March 2019 through Universal Music Group Nigeria. The album features guest appearances from Shizzi, and Walshy Fire. It was primarily produced by Shizzi, with additional production from Walshy Fire, Swerve, LeriQ, and Mike Best. The lead single includes the tracks "Show You Off", "Contagious", "Paranoid", and "Wishes and Butterflies".
Def Jam Recordings Africa, is the African division of the international record label Def Jam Recordings. The label is owned by Universal Music Africa, a flagship of Universal Music Group. Founded in 2020, and operating in South Africa, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, and Cameroon. It specializes mainly on African hip-hop, Afrobeats and trap music.
Universal Music South Africa is the South African division of the record label Universal Music Group, founded in 1997.
Universal Music Africa (UMA) is a multilingual music corporation of the global record label Universal Music Group, covering 25 French, Spanish, and Portuguese-speaking countries, in Africa, with its corporate headquarters located in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Universal Music Africa is known for housing Motown Gospel Africa, Blue Note Records Africa, and Def Jam Recordings Africa.
Makayla Oghenefejiro Oluwayimika Malaka, popularly known as Makayla Malaka, is a British-Nigerian singer and dancer. She began her music career as a child singer, releasing her debut album age eight.
Paul Okoye, also known as Paulo Okoye or Paul O, is a Nigerian event promoter, talent manager, record exec, philanthropist and business man.
Bowofoluwa Olufisayo Odunsi (born June 7, 1996) known professionally as Odunsi the Engine stylized Odunsi (The Engine) is a Nigerian alternative singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer. Odunsi came into the music scene in 2018 with his full-length debut album "Rare" which earned him nominations at The Headies and SoundCity MVP Awards establishing him as a critical figure in the innovative Nigerian Alté music scene, he is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Alte music. In 2019 he was profiled by The New York Times as the new guard of Nigerian music.