Nigeria to Host Inaugural Africa Music Business Roundtable

From June 3 to June 5, 2025, Nigeria will stand at the centre of a historic milestone in Africa’s music evolution as it hosts the first-ever Africa Music Business Roundtable (AMBR). This trailblazing event, scheduled to gather in Lagos, is designed to bring together top stakeholders from across the continent to engage in critical discourse surrounding the future of Africa’s music industry. The initiative signals a bold step toward creating sustainable, inclusive, and innovative systems that benefit every actor in the music value chain. At the heart of the Roundtable is a strong desire to tap into Africa’s recent global musical achievements and direct that momentum into structured policies, data-driven decisions, and forward-thinking financial strategies. Co-founder Michael Odiong describes the event as “a pivotal moment for Africa’s music ecosystem,” noting that the Roundtable will unite policymakers, record label executives, copyright officials, insight firms, independent creators, and academics to explore Africa’s growing music economy and its unique opportunities and challenges.

A Vision for Structured Growth and Innovation

The central themes of the Africa Music Business Roundtable include data transparency, music rights securitisation, copyright infrastructure, investment opportunities, and the development of robust policy frameworks. Each of these is vital to professionalising and scaling the African music ecosystem. Currently, many African artists thrive globally despite fragmented copyright systems, insufficient royalty tracking, and inadequate infrastructure for artist development. The Roundtable seeks to change this by fostering meaningful collaboration between regulators and creatives to build mechanisms that protect intellectual property, ensure fair remuneration, and facilitate regional and international investment.

Dr. Chinedu Chukwuji, co-founder of the event, emphasised the strategic importance of this forum, stating that AMBR is “a rallying cry” for Africa’s music leaders to build policies that reflect the continent’s unique needs and immense potential. Through keynote presentations, immersive panel discussions, and practical workshops, participants will explore models for music rights management, digital streaming monetisation, and industry-focused education. These sessions aim to empower both new and established players with the tools to navigate and thrive within the evolving music business landscape.

Collaboration, Policy, and Sustainable Development

The Africa Music Business Roundtable will not only serve as a gathering of minds but also as a collaborative space to formulate actionable strategies. Government agencies, industry bodies, universities, and private investors will engage in cross-sectoral dialogue to build bridges between creativity and commerce. One anticipated outcome is the formulation of a continental framework for intellectual property that supports the growth of local talents while making the industry more attractive to global investors. Additionally, workshops and networking opportunities will be vital in helping creators better understand rights management, market dynamics, and investment readiness. Ultimately, the AMBR reflects a broader shift toward recognising music not just as culture or entertainment, but as a viable economic sector. By creating this space for dialogue, Nigeria positions itself as a leading force in redefining how African music is organised, valued, and sustained.