Company type | Private |
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Industry | Entertainment |
Founded | 2016 |
Headquarters | Plot 10, 10 Ayo Babatunde Cres, Maroko 000234, Lekki, , |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
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Products | Music, Entertainment, Sports |
Owners |
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Subsidiaries |
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Website | https://www.plugng.com |
The Plug (operating as The Plug Entertainment LTD) headquartered in Lagos, is a Nigerian Entertainment company founded in 2016. [1] It's known for housing a talent management, booking agency, distribution, publishing, and event management unit. The company is headed by Asa Asika, Bizzle Osikoya, and Tobi Mohammed as co-owners. [2] [3] [4] Its music unit includes Plug Entertainment, Plug Live, The Plug Music, Plug Films, and Plug Publishing. Its sports units include Plug Sports.
In 2020, Billboard Magazine named The Plug as one of The Gatekeepers of the Nigerian music industry. [5]
The Plug was formed in 2016 by Asa Asika, and Bizzle Osikoya as a talent management company, [6] with the merger of TopBoy Entertainment in 2022, Asa Asika, Bizzle Osikoya, and Tobi Mohammed, became owners with equal shares. [3] The company was established with the aim to make Nigerian artists global with the help of the founder's experience in the Nigerian entertainment industry. Asa Asika began his career working for his uncle Obi Asika at Storm 360, before establishing his management company StarGaze, and Bizzle Osikoya began his at Storm 360 and later joined Mavin's, [7] went on to establish his imprint B Entertainment. [8]
They both merged their companies StarGaze Management Company, and B Entertainment in 2016 to establish The Plug. The company began managing Davido in the following year, under Asa Asika. [9] In 2017, the company expand its artist services and began operating as a 360 entertainment company, handling artist booking, music distribution, music publishing, with event production, and management. On 14 September 2022, Tobi Mohammed imprint TopBoy Entertainment formalized its merger with The Plug. [3]
Plug Entertainment is a Nigerian-based Music management company founded by The Plug in 2016, and is headed by Asa Asika, and Bizzle Osikoya. Music talent management by the division includes past and present artists; Davido, CKay, Bella Shmurda, BOJ, Focalistic, [10] Victony, Smallz The DJ, Raebel, ShineTTW, DRB LasGidi, Maze x Mxtreme, and DJ Titanium. [11]
Plug Live is a Nigerian event management and production company owned by The Plug. [12] Plug Live is the production company of Mainland Block Party, a Nigerian music festival. [2]
The Plug Music (operating as The Plug Music Services), is a Nigerian Music Distribution, Music Publishing, and Music Licensing division of The Plug.
Plug Films is a Nigerian film production and distribution company founded by The Plug.
Plug Sports (also operating as The Plug Sports), is a Nigerian-based Sport management company founded by The Plug in 2019, and is headed by Lanre Vigo. [13] Sports talent management by the division includes Henry Onyekuru, Asisat Oshoala, Clement Ugah, Uchenna Kanu, Michelle Alozie, and Tobi Amusan. [14] [15] [16] [17]
Plug Publishing is a Nigerian music publishing company owned by The Plug and operates as a division of The Plug Music. [18]
African Women Footballer of the Year, an annual award for Africa's best female football player. It is awarded by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in December each year. Nigeria's Asisat Oshoala has won the award a record six times. The award was given out for the first time in 2001.
David Adedeji AdelekeOON, known professionally as Davido, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most important Afrobeats artists of the 21st century, and is credited alongside Burna Boy and Wizkid for popularizing the genre globally.
Omo Baba Olowo is the debut studio album by Nigerian singer Davido. It was released by HKN Music on July 17, 2012, and is a mixture of Afrobeats and hip hop. The album was produced by Jay Sleek, Maleek Berry, GospelOnDeBeatz, Spellz, Dokta Frabz, Mr. Chidoo, Theory Soundz and Shizzi. Omo Baba Olowo features collaborations with Naeto C, Sina Rambo, B-Red, Kayswitch, Ice Prince, May D and 2 Face Idibia. It produced the singles "Back When", "Dami Duro", "Ekuro", "Overseas", "All of You", "Gbon Gbon", and "Feel Alright".
Obi Asika is the Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC. He was appointed on Friday 12, January 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Before his appointment, he is known for his involvement in the growth of Nigeria's music industry, as the founder and CEO of Storm 360 - an indigenous music label. Storm 360 has spawned a lot of Nigerian entertainers including Naeto C, Ikechukwu, Sasha P, General Pype, L.O.S., Ms Jaie, Tosin Martins, and Yung 6ix.
"Fall" is a song by Nigerian singer Davido. It was released as the second single from his second studio album, A Good Time (2019). The song was produced by Nigerian record producer Kiddominant. On 25 June 2017, "Fall" was ranked second on Playdata charts' list of the Most Played Songs in Nigeria. According to Rolling Stone magazine, "Fall" was one of the top-100-most-Shazam-searched singles in America in January 2019, and was a top-10 record on Shazam in New York. In February 2019, "Fall" became the longest charting Nigerian pop song in Billboard history. It was ranked 163 on Pitchfork's list of the 200 Best Songs of the 2010s. As of August 2021, "Fall" has received over 60 million streams on Spotify, and has been certified platinum by the RIAA and Music Canada.
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.
Joseph Akinwale, known professionally as Joeboy, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter, currently signed to Warner Music Africa in partnership with his record label Young Legend. He was formerly signed by Mr Eazi under emPawa Africa, where he was discovered in 2017, through the emPawa Africa talent incubation program. His musical genres are Afro-pop and R&B.
Asa Asika, is a Nigerian talent manager, best known as Davido's manager, also the co-founder of The Plug and The Block Party Series.
Plug Sports, is a Nigerian-based Sport management company owned by The Plug. The company operates as a division of Plug Entertainment, a music management company. The sporting division of Plug Entertainment, is headed by Lanre Vigo. Some of the soccer players managed by Plug Sports include Henry Onyekuru, Asisat Oshoala, and Uchenna Kanu.
"Away" is a song by Nigerian singer Oxlade, released as the only single from his first extended play Oxygene (2020). The song was produced by Nigerian record producer Spax. It was ranked at number 23 on Rolling Stone's list of 50 Best Songs of 2020, and TurnTable's Yearly Top 50 chart of 2020. As of August 2021, "Away" has received over 7.9 million streams on Spotify.
Oxygene is the debut extended play by Nigerian singer-songwriter Oxlade. It was released on 27 March 2020, through Troniq Music, and The Plug Entertainment. The extended play featured guest appearance from Moelogo.
Chukwuka Chukwuma Ekweani, better known by his stage name Ckay, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer signed to Warner Music South Africa and Atlantic Records. He was formerly signed to Chocolate City, a member of Warner Music Group independent label services ADA. His international hit single "Love Nwantiti", also known as "Love Nwantiti ", was released in 2019 by Chocolate City. On 29 March 2022, the song debuted at number one, following the launch of the Billboard Afrobeats chart. On 9 May 2022, it became the first-ever African song to surpass one billion streams on Spotify and has since been deemed "the biggest hit in African history".
Ikuforiji Olaitan Abdulrahman, known professionally as Oxlade, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter signed to Troniq Music, Epic Records in France, and Columbia Records in the UK. He rose to prominence with the release of the song "Away", which appeared on Rolling Stone's 50 best songs of 2020. Oxlade was named the first Pandora Africa's Next Artist in July 2022.
TurnTable is a Nigerian music and entertainment magazine founded by Ayomide Oriowo, and Similoluwa Adegoke. TurnTable focuses primarily on music charts, news, and events. Its music charts include the Top 100, and the Year-End chart. TurnTable magazine has two issues, and its first issue was published on 19 December 2020, by Similoluwa Adegoke. Its issues are printed in English language. In 2023 the magazine launched its music recording certification, TurnTable Certification System of Nigeria to represent the recording certification system of music industry in Nigeria.
"Watawi" is a song by Nigerian singer and songwriter CKay, featuring fellow Nigerian singer Davido, alongside a South African rapper Focalistic, and record producer Abidoza. It was released on 17 June 2022, by Warner Music Africa. "Watawi" was written by CKay, Davido, Focalistic, and Abidoza, who also produced the song. It accompanied by a music video directed by Dalia Dias. It debuted at number 13 on the TurnTable Top 50, number 21 on the US Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart, and number 6 on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart.
Abiodun Osikoya, popularly known as Bizzle Osikoya, is a Nigerian record label executive, talent manager, film producer, and sound engineer. He is the co-founder of The Plug and The Block Party Series. In June 2022, Bizzle joined the Recording Academy class of 2022, as a professional member.
Sad Romance is the debut studio album by Nigerian singer CKay. It was released by Warner Music Africa on 23 September 2022. The album features guest appearances from Ayra Starr, Davido, Focalistic, Abidoza, Mayra Andrade, and Ronisia, and was executive produced by CKay. Following the release of the album CKay embarked on the Sad Romance North America Tour (2022).
Adesegun Adeosun Jnr, popularly known as Smade, is a Nigerian-born British event promoter, creative industry expert and entrepreneur. He is co-founder and CEO of Afro Nation, an annual music festival established to bring together the best African artists in afrobeats, hip hop, RnB, dancehall, amapiano and more. He is also the founder of Smade Entertainment, a UK-based entertainment company.
Timeless is the fourth studio album by Nigerian singer Davido. It was released on March 31, 2023, through Davido Music Worldwide, Columbia Records, and Sony Music Entertainment. Primarily an amapiano record, the album explores other musical styles such as afrobeats, dancehall, ragga, konto, highlife, and afropop. Timeless comprises 17 tracks and features collaborations with Skepta, Angelique Kidjo, Asake, Focalistic, and The Cavemen, among others. Its production was handled by Magicsticks, Ragee, Darmie, Blaisebeatz, 1da Banton, Caltonic SA, and Young Alpha, among others. The album was supported by the singles "Champion Sound" and "Unavailable". Timeless received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised its production and considered it to be one of Davido's most accomplished albums yet. In July 2023, Davido embarked on the Timeless North American Tour to support the album.
The BlockParty Series started in Lagos, Nigeria as Mainland BlockParty in 2018. The party series comprises Island BlockParty, Capital BlockParty, Garden BlockParty, Premier BlockParty, Gold BlockParty, and a BlockParty pop-up at Afro Nation. The music festival is held monthly on the last Sunday of the month except for the anniversary edition on 1 January. It holds in various cities including Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, and Accra. The party series is produced by TopBoy Entertainment and Plug Live It is one of West Africa’s biggest monthly youth festivals by attendance drawing considerable media attention internationally.