Universal Music Group Nigeria (UMGNG) is the West African division of the global

record label A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the produ ...

Universal Music Group Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...

. Founded in 2017, it has its corporate headquarters located in

Victoria Island Victoria Island ( ikt, Kitlineq, italic=yes) is a large island in the Arctic Archipelago that straddles the boundary between Nunavut and the Northwest Territories of Canada. It is the List of islands by area, eighth-largest island in the world, ...

, Lagos, Nigeria. The label has signed at least seventeen artists from various African countries. UMGNG is engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and

audiovisual Audiovisual (AV) is electronic media possessing both a sound and a visual component, such as slide-tape presentations, films, television programs, corporate conferencing, church services, and live theater productions. Audiovisual service prov ...

content.

History

Universal Music Group Nigeria was founded on 17 July 2018, as a flagship of

, and a division of

Universal Music Africa 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, Côt ...

. Following the launching of the imprint,

UMG Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch–American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...

appoint's Ezegozie Eze Jr., the former executive at South African-based music station,

Channel O Channel O is a South African-based music channel which first started transmission in 1997. Its main concept is African music in Africa and the diaspora. Channel O can be accessed via DStv, a satellite pay TV service for pan-African households. ...

, as the General Manager of Universal Music Group Nigeria. UMGNG began operation with WurlD, Odunsi (the Engine), Tay Iwar, Cina Soul and

Stonebwoy Livingstone Etse Satekla (born 5 March 1988), better known by his stage name Stonebwoy, is a Ghanaian Afropop, dancehall and reggae musician. He is the CEO of Burniton Music Group. He won the Best International Act: Africa category at the 201 ...

, as its first recording artist. The label also signed

Mr Eazi Oluwatosin Ajibade (born 19 July 1991), better known by his stage name Mr Eazi, is a Nigerian-born, Ghana-based singer. He is a pioneer of Banku music, a fusion of sound he describes as a mixture of Ghanaian highlife and Nigerian chord progressio ...

, co-signed Tekno in conjunction with Island Records UK and

Vanessa Mdee Vanessa Hau Mdee (born 7 June 1988), 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 Bong ...

in conjunction with AfroForce1 Records, Universal Music Central Europe, and

Universal Music South Africa Universal Music South Africa is the South African division of the record label Universal Music Group, founded in 1997. Overview Universal Music South Africa, was founded in 1997, as the second-largest African division of Universal Music Group. O ...

. On 30 April 2019, Demi Grace joined Universal Music Group Nigeria artist roaster. On 8 November 2019, Idahams signed with Universal Music Group Nigeria, in conjunction with

Grafton Entertainment Grafton Entertainment, sometimes referred to as Grafton Records, is an artist management company and record label, with dual-headquarters in both United Kingdom and Nigeria. History Grafton Entertainment was formed in 2004 by Tonye Ibiama, who cr ...

. Shortly after the announcement, he released his first single "Billion Dollar", under Universal Music Group Nigeria.

2020s

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 The Gidi Culture Festival (often dubbed Coachella in Lagos) is an annual one-day music and arts festival that takes place in Lagos, Nigeria. Co-founded by Chinedu Okeke and Oriteme Banigo, it was created in response to a demand from the local yo ...

, 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, and resigned from his position in August 2021.

UMG and music licensing

UMG and Boomplay

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.

UMG and

In 2019, UMG became the first major music company to license its substantial music catalog to 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.

UMGNG business divisions

Universal Music Group Nigeria operates business divisions that co-exist with its music, music publishing, and audiovisual content divisions. 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

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. 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.

UMG Live Africa

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.

UMGB

Universal Music Group and Brands (UMGB) is the creative and brand partnerships division of Universal Music Group.

Managing Directors

*Ezegozie Eze Jr. (2017–2020) *Chinedu Okeke

Artists signed to UMGNG

Davido David Adedeji Adeleke (born November 21, 1992), popularly known by his stage name Davido, is an American-Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. His music blends traditional African elements with global mainstream pop. Davido is widel ...

*Cina Soul * Demi Grace * Idahams *IDYL *Irene Ntalé *Jinmi Abduls *Juls * Alpha P *KiDi *

Lady Zamar Yamikani Janet Banda; known professionally as Lady Zamar, is a South African singer and songwriter. She was born on 19 June 1995 in Tembisa, South Africa and was raised in Thembisa. She mainly incorporates elements of house music in her songs and ...

Larry Gaaga Larry Ndianefo, professionally known as Larry Gaaga, is a Nigerian songwriter, recording artist, music producer, and record label executive. He gained fame with the success of ‘Gaaga Shuffle’, a song he performed alongside Innocent ‘2Baba� ...

* Naiboi *

Nasty C Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo (born 11 February 1997), known professionally as Nasty C, is a South African rapper, songwriter, and record producer. After releasing three mixtapes, one being "Undisputed" and two EPs, Ngcobo released his debu ...

Nonso Bassey 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 si ...

*Okmalumkoolkat *Odunsi (The Engine) *

* Tekno *TMXO *Tomi Owo *

*Vector * WurlD * Odumodublvck

References

{{reflist

External links

* UMG

* UMGLIVE Afric

Universal Music Group Record label distributors