A music record label or record company according to Wikipedia, 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 production, distribution, marketing, promoting and enforcing copyright for sound recording and music videos, while also conducting talent scouting and development of new artistes and maintaining contracts with recording artistes and their managers.
This is a pure and on point definition of a music record label. On this post, we will list some of the Top music record labels in Nigeria and their owners alongside some artistes who where/are under these record labels.
TOP 7 NIGERIAN MUSIC RECORD LABELS AND THEIR OWNERS
1. Mavin Record
2. YBNL
3. Chocolate City
4. DMW
5. STARBOY ENTERTAINMENT
6. MARLIANS MUSIC
7. EMPAWA AFRICA
1. MAVIN RECORDS
The first on our list of course is the Almighty Mavin Records (formerly Mo'Hits). This is one of the biggest record label in the Nigerian music industry. It was once owned by Don Jazzy and D'Banj but later rebranded from Mo'Hits to Mavin Records after D'Banj left Mo'Hits. You can read a more detailed post about this on Wikipedia.
It was founded on the 8th of May, 2012 and so far, the record label have signed popular artiste in the Afrobeat industry you know today like Tiwa Savage, Wande Coal, Reekado Banks, Inyanya, Korede Bello, Dr SID, D'Prince, Di'Ja, Johnny Drille, Ladipoe, DNA Twins, Rema, Crayon, Ayra Starr, Magixx, Boy Spyce and Bayanni. As stated earlier above, you can view or read a detailed post about Mavin Records On Wikipedia.
YEAR FOUNDED: 2012
FOUNDER: Michael Collins Ajereh (Don Jazzy)
2. YBNL
YBNL which is an acronym for Yahoo Boy No Laptop is a record label founded by one of Nigeria's music industry bosses, Olamide in 2012. Not much is known about YBNL, but it is one of the biggest and one of the top music record labels in Nigeria. It has signed popular artiste like, Lil Kesh, Viktoh, Chinko Ekun, Adekunle Gold, Lyta, Yomi Blaze, DJ Enimoney, Asake, Fireboy and others on 19 February 2020, YBNL Nation signed a distribution and publishing deal with Empire Distribution.
YEAR FOUNDED: 2012
FOUNDER: Olamide Adedeji (Olamide)
3. Chocolate City
Chocolate City is one of the oldest and still thriving Nigerian Music record label. Founded in 2005 by Lawyer Audu Maikori, Paul Okeugo and Yahaya Maikori, this is one of the oldest and still thriving Nigerian music record label.
Chocolate City wasfounded as a subsidiary of Chocolate Group which included other Ventures. Chocolate City record label has housed a bunch of popular artistes like M.I Abaga, Femi Kuti, Nosa, Dice Ailes, Blaqbonez, Ckay, Ice Prince Zamani, DJ Lambo, Brymo, Jesse Jagz (M.I's Bro). I decided to add it in the Number three spot because it is well deserved to still be alive amidst competition.
YEAR FOUNDED: 2005
FOUNDERS: Audu Maikori, Paul Okuego, Yahaya Maikori
READ ALSO: All YBNL Nation Artistes, Producers and owner
4. DMW
Of course this will be on the list and it's taking our number 4 spot. DMW which is an acronym for Davido Music Worldwide, is a Nigerian music record label owned by one of Afrobeat industry bosses, Davido. The label was founded on the 18th of April, 2016 by David Adedeji Adeleke (Davido) and has it's headquarters in Lekki, Lagos Nigeria. It has signed numerous artistes like Dremo, Yonda, Peruzzi, Idowest, DJ Ecool, B-Red, May D, Liya, Mayorkun and Lil Frosh, amongst others.
YEAR FOUNDED: 2016
FOUNDER: David Adedeji Adeleke (Davido)
5. STARBOY ENTERTAINMENT
This is another top record label in the Nigerian Afrobeat music industry. It was founded and owned by one of industry bosses, Wizkid. It was founded in 2013 after Wizkid parted away from Empire Mates Entertainment (his former label). So far, the label has signed some top industry figures like producers Maleek Berry, Legendary Beats and singers like Starboy Terri, DJ Tunez, Mr Eazi, Efya, R2Bees and others.
YEAR FOUNDED: 2013
FOUNDER: Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (Wizkid)
6. MARLIANS MUSIC
This is a popular record label owned by popular Nigerian street hop artist, Naira Marley. It was founded in December, 2019 and have been around ever since. The record label has signed the likes of Zinoleesky, Cblack, Fabian Blue, Mohbad and others.
YEAR FOUNDED: 2019
FOUNDER: Azeez Adeshina Fashola
7. EMPAWA AFRICA
Well, according to info, Empawa Africa is not exactly a record label per say, but they do function as one. It was founded in November, 2018 by Mr Eazi. So far, the label or business has signed two artistes, Joeboy and Female vocalist, Fave.
YEAR FOUNDED: 2018
FOUNDER: Oluwatosin Ajibade (Mr Eazi)
HOW TO GET SIGNED INTO A RECORD LABEL
Getting signed into a record label these days should be easy. Don't get me wrong (I mean, if you have what it takes and can make good use of social media). I decided to add this little write up to the main post.
I'm going to make the write up focus solely on the good use of social media to help yourself boost your growth and finally, land yourself a record label deal and taste some dolls. OK, let's take some popular trending artitse like Zinoleesky, Mohbad, Lil Frosh Boy Spyce and others for example. These artists took social media platforms by the horn and made them a fan base and recognition source.
Let's start from Zinoleesky and Lil Frosh, this two were friends who recorded themselves free styling on rap lines and songs and then upload the videos to their social media handles and then boom, they got massive attention, fan base and got signed into their respective record labels. Mohbad also did thesame thing Zino and Lil Frosh did, in fact, Mohbad was part of the first Marlians Music record label signees which included Zino, Cblack, Fabian Blue and Mohbad Himself. Mohbad is popular for doing the cover of Kizz Daniel's song, F*ck You. Likewise Boy Spyce who did popular songs covers and uploaded them to his social media platforms. He is popular for doing the WizKid's Song, Essence Featuring Tems.
Ok, from these stories above, you can see how these young lads made good use of social media to better their lives. They are now enjoying the fruits of their labour (them fit still plant another fruit). Most people on social media today, use it for illicit means and a worth not. Shaking your butt on tik tok and not making shi shi from it is not a good business return (hehehe). So, what I'm I trying to say in essence, you can showcase yourself to the world by posting your crafts on your social media accounts. If possible, create social media pages, run ads and get followers (Thank God for Meta). You can use Facebook and IG to do these and if your content or craft or talent is good and you are good at what you do, then why not. Before you know, you see one of the music industry bosses getting you signed into a record label and then you get to pull up in a black one and leave in the white one (hehehe).
So these are the strategies, create your content (since we are talking music), do it to the very best of your might, upload to your social media accounts, get followers and recognitions, seek for celebrities attention (not easy but you can try) and when you get noticed by industry bosses, watch your life take a better turn for you. Peace and I'm out. Abi wait conclusion dey.
CONCLUSION
With all that been said, you can see the top music record labels in the Nigerian music industry and their owners. Thank you for reading my blog, drop your comments in the comment section and bookmark my blog to get more content like this.
FAQS
Q. Which Record label is the best in Nigeria?
A. We have many good Record labels in Nigeria, from Mavin to YBNL, DMW and many more however, Mavin stands out as the most popular.
Q. Which is the Biggest Record label in Nigeria?
A. As of the time of answering this, the biggest Record label in Nigeria is Mavin Records owned by Don Jazzy.
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