Lagos, Nigeria – April 23, 2025 – Chocolate City CEO Abuchi Peter Ugwu shared authoritative insights on the commercial evolution of Afrobeats during the 2025 Headies Creative Summit, which took place yesterday in Lagos.
The high-profile session, “The Business of Afrobeats,” featured Ugwu alongside respected brand strategist Tobi Mohammed, with media personality Seyitan Atigarin as the moderator.
Ugwu articulated the transformation of Afrobeats from a local phenomenon to a global powerhouse, highlighting the sophisticated business ecosystem required for sustainable growth.
He emphasised that behind every viral hit lies a complex ecosystem: robust royalty-collection frameworks, strategic sync licensing, and carefully negotiated brand collaborations.
The discussion revealed critical market intelligence about monetisation channels reshaping the industry. Mohammed presented compelling commercial data points, including a telecom partnership that drove subscriber growth by 20% and a fashion collaboration that created immediate retail success.
The conversation spotlighted how streaming algorithms, social media engagement, and user-generated content have revolutionised audience development strategies across key markets. Industry analysts noted that the session established a clear business case for investment in Afrobeats as both a cultural force and a commercial opportunity.
Concluding, Ugwu stated, “Afrobeats has the soul of our communities and the scale of a global industry. Our next step is to cement the legal, financial, and technological foundations that will let this music—and the people behind it—flourish for generations.”
The Headies Creative Summit is poised to become the definitive platform for strategic discussions about African creative industries, with participants representing major labels, investment firms, and technology companies from across global markets.
