Warner Music has unveiled its ambitious plans to establish a significant presence in Nigeria’s vibrant music industry with the opening of its first fully owned office hub in Lagos.
A statement issued by the company said the decision followed a recent trip undertaken by the company’s management team to Abuja, where they engaged in high-level meetings with key government officials.
The team, led by Alfonso Perez-Soto, President of Emerging Markets at Warner Music, along with Laverne Thomas, Operations Lead, Temi Adeniji, Managing Director, and Yoel Kenan, CEO of Africori, discussed plans to bolster WMA’s mission of empowering Nigeria’s creative sector.
During their visit, the delegation met with ministers and other officials who reiterated the government’s keenness to drive growth and innovation in the creative economy.
The team met with Minister of State For Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande; Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; and the Special Adviser to the President on Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Adeagbo Ayomide.
The statement says WMA, since 2017, has been investing in local businesses while also contributing significantly to the creative sector.
Notable investments include partnerships with Ziiki Media, Chocolate City, and Africori. Additionally, the Warner Music Group / Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund (WMG/BFF SJF) has contributed over US$450,000 to support initiatives in Nigeria’s creative industry.
WMA recently signed Nigerian singer-songwriter Joeboy, who has amassed an impressive two billion streams over the past five years. Joeboy’s partnership with WMA includes the establishment of his own record label, Young Legend, dedicated to nurturing emerging talent, with WMA providing global distribution for the label’s artists.
