Úrú Collective | Speaker Agency

What is talent management, actually?

Listen on YouTube: youtu.be/eRLLhz6Zi6Y

🎙️🌍 On the latest episode of @AfrobeatsIntel, Nigerian DJ/producer Aniko speaks to host @JoeyAkan about being at the forefront of the EDM and house music scene in Lagos 🤩🇳🇬 More here: bit.ly/47x1Fpz

"Afrobeats to the world was always going to happen. It was the law of averages, since the music is undeniable." — Wale.

Talent managers should have some level of corporate and/or legal experience.

#TheSecretLivesOfBabaSegiWives ✨

🎙️ On this week's episode of @AfrobeatsIntel, host @JoeyAkan brings American star @Wale into the fold 🌍 Stay tuned! Episode two OUT TOMORROW 🤩🙌🏾

Episode 2 is out now 🎙️🔥 On this episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, @Wale joins @JoeyAkan for an honest conversation about his journey, growing up with Nigerian parents, the rise of Afrobeats in the U.S., and his connection to Africa. Sponsored by @martell 🥃 #MartellXAfrobeatsIntelligence

🎙️In this episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, @joeyakan sits down with platinum-selling hip-hop artist @wale to talk about his journey, growing up with Nigerian parents, and his early collaborations with Afrobeats artists. 🇳🇬🔥 Details Here: bit.ly/40ZtP8O #MartellXAfrobeatsIntelligence

New N60 billion Spotify payment to Afrobeats shows industry stagnation.

🎙️ What do you think was Afrobeats’ real breakthrough moment outside Africa? 🌍🎶 Sponsored by @martell 🥃 #MartellXAfrobeatsIntelligence

BREAKING 🚨: Nigerian artists generated ₦60 billion on Spotify in 2025! Spotify today shared Nigeria-specific insights from Loud & Clear, its annual report designed to help artists, fans, and the wider music industry better understand the economics of music streaming. In 2025, Nigerian artists generated over ₦60 billion from Spotify alone, with revenue growing by more than 140% over the last two years. The figures reflect both the growing global appeal of Nigerian music and the increasing economic opportunity for artists across the market. The report also shows the scale of listener engagement with Nigerian music on Spotify. In 2025, Nigerian artists generated 30.3 billion streams and 1.6 billion listening hours on Spotify alone. They were also discovered by first-time listeners more than 1.3 billion times, marking a 26% increase compared to 2024. -year. Around 58% of all royalties generated by Nigerian artists on Spotify in 2025 were generated by independent artists or labels, highlighting the important role independent creators and businesses continue to play in Nigeria’s music story. Spotify’s editorial ecosystem also continued to support artist discovery and amplification. In 2025, nearly 2,000 Nigerian artists were added to editorial playlists on Spotify. Beyond editorial support, Nigerian music continued to resonate strongly with listeners around the world, with Nigerian artists featured in nearly 320 million user playlists globally and over 12 million user playlists in Nigeria. In total, more than 60 million playlists featuring Nigerian artists were created on Spotify alone in 2025. The latest data also reflects the breadth of listening culture in Nigeria. Over the last five years, the genres that have seen the highest growth on Spotify in Nigeria are pop urbaine, alternative pop, anime, emo, and drill, signalling an increasingly diverse and fast-evolving music landscape.

Happy Afrobeats Intelligence Episode Day! To all who celebrate. Beyond shooting the episode, I was just grateful to be in the room and watch two of my faves do their thing! Thank you! ❤️ @JoeyAkan @nnekasmind See you on YouTube! ✌🏽

🎙️Season 5 of Afrobeats Intelligence is here 🔥 The first episode features @beatsbysarz, kicking off a new season of powerful conversations hosted by @joeyakan. This season also includes @iam_kcee, @wale, @winnyadanu, and more 👀✨ Sponsored by @martell 🥃 #MartellxAfrobeatsIntelligence

Sarz on ownership and the importance of building for yourself.

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🇳🇬 Can you believe that Sarz has never received residual income in Nigeria? 🫣 The star shares this and more on @AfrobeatsIntel with @JoeyAkan 👇🏾

This email I just received is such great news for Afrobeats! Congratulations to Dapper and his team.

First project listen of the year: Sixties — "The Ascension." 🔥🔥🔥 There's a particular kind of ambition that announces itself not through volume but through clarity of vision, and Sixties' debut album "The Ascension" possesses it in abundance. Released under AfroMarvel Entertainment, this 12-track manifesto wrapped in melody comes from an artist who understands that Afrobeats' next evolution will come from deeper emotional excavation rather than louder drums or flashier production. The album opens with "El Morijah," a recognition of divine benevolence that sets the spiritual tone, before moving through terrain that feels both intimately Nigerian and universally resonant. What distinguishes Sixties from the glut of emerging Afrobeats artists is his refusal to flatten his contradictions. On "Testimony," the album's undeniable centerpiece, he channels gratitude through textured vocals that crack with lived experience rather than studio polish. The track has gained traction on social media because it excavates something genuine: the intersection of faith and hustle that defines a generation of young Africans navigating precarious prosperity. The album's thematic architecture reveals an artist wrestling with Nigeria's dualities. "Omo Naija" addresses the country's social fractures, advocating for unity amid civil conflicts, while "7 Days" shifts into romantic territory. Tracks like "Omo Olodun" and "4am (Stuntin')" pulse with party energy while maintaining the album's spiritual throughline, achieving a balance many debut albums attempt but few manage. Spiritual devotion and street celebration exist here as different expressions of survival. At 12 tracks, "The Ascension" reveals an artist eager to showcase his range, occasionally prioritizing breadth over focus. Tighter sequencing might have given standout moments like "Testimony" and "Ajuwayaa" more room to resonate. The production remains solid throughout, though bolder choices could have elevated the material further. These are minor considerations in an otherwise accomplished debut. In an era when Afrobeats risks becoming a hollow signifier for African pop's global aspirations, "The Ascension" reminds us that the genre's most compelling practitioners remain those willing to risk vulnerability over virality.