Audu Maikori excellent Afrobeat music right now? Meet Audu Maikori, a pioneer and promoter of Afrobeat music , media and entertainment Entrepreneur & entertainment lawyer focused on film, Esports and TV. So as an entrepreneur your prayer is not that there shouldn’t be challenges- but rather that the you solve new and more ambitious challenges as your business expands. Some of the greatest challenges I have faced in running my business are similar to many – lack of adequate funds, financial management – how to manage the inadequate resources, then the ability to scale your business- and this is common with many businesses especially when you achieve early success- the question is how do you re-create more successes? How do you sustain it? How quickly do you expand? Should you sell shares or take loan? And the biggest question of all- What if the business fails?
Audu Maikori is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, lawyer and creative industry expert. He is better known as the founder of Chocolate City Group- a media /entertainment company which is comprised of Chocolate City Media (Film,TV and content production), Chocolate City Kenya, CCX (live music space) and Chocolate City Music record label – one of the biggest record labels in Africa – and home to some of Africa’s most talented artistes including Grammy Nominated Femi Kuti, M.I Abaga, Dice Ailes, Ckay, Blaqbonez etc. In March 2019, Chocolate City Group signed a landmark partnership deal with Warner Music Group (one of the biggest record labels in the world) to bring the Warner catalogue to Africa and promote the Chocolate City catalogue and artists across 60 new markets globally.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more? I am involved in several businesses and my role differs in each of them- but for the purpose of this conversation – you can say that like every entrepreneur – when the business(Chocolate City Music) started – I was involved in a lot of the ideation, strategy and visioning alongside my partners Paul and Yahaya but as CEO I was involved in mostly executing our vision – the vision then was to create a local company that could help talented youth to achieve their artistic and creative dreams commercially without losing their authenticity.
Audu Maikori: Well, I think there are different things for everybody. But I cannot sign an artiste who has not put in work at all. So for example, if I see an artiste that got 50,000 followers, it’s easier for me to sign him than to sign an artiste that got 3,000 followers. That’s one part. But also, if I see an artiste that got 25 song sales and they are sounding very good, I will sign him over an artiste that got a 100,000 followers with no song sale. So it’s about the hardwork they are putting, how much social capital they have built for themselves, their work ethic, and their ability to want to succeed. Truth is, you can sign artiste but if he himself doesn’t do the work, he cannot become successful.
It’s been a busy last few weeks for Group CEO of Chocolate City Entertainment, Audu Maikori. In line with his unwavering commitment to elevating the conversation around African music and business, he has been front and centre at a number of different engagements – the most notable of which being the Roc Nation brunch, and a lecture at Harvard Business School.
A special episode recorded in Barbados with attorney, activist, and music producer Audu Maikori. Attending the island nation’s rebirth as a parliamentary republic, and assisting with ambitious plans to build a heritage district, we cover that momentous transition and his encounter this past week with another prince, the Prince of Wales, his roots as a member of the Ham royal family of the Nok people, the quest for restitution of its looted heritage, and the need for a suitable Museum to receive it. A social activist who was arrested for alleged incitement to violence, he prevailed in court and was awarded damages against the Governor of Kaduna State and the Nigerian police force. His work as a music producer has taken him in multiple directions, from discovering new talent and seeing artists reach millions of listeners globally, to combating piracy and helping develop copyright protections in Nigeria, to serving as a judge in the first season of Nigerian Idol. Erudite, generous, and philosophical, he opens the door to greater understanding of several issues facing one of the world’s most populous nations, brimming with possibilities. Discover extra details at Audu Maikori.