Powerhouses to some of Africa’s finest artists EMPIRE and Platoon became a noteworthy addition to the Billboard International Power Players List for 2022.
Following the massive success of Afrobeats in the year 2021 spanning into 2022, two of the biggest distribution outfits for Afrobeats and African music as a whole, EMPIRE and Platoon made the shortlist of the Billboard International Power Players for 2022.
The two distribution brands played a vital and significant role in putting Afrobeats on the world map. EMPIRE recorded massive success according to Billboard as a result of the company’s significant expansion to Africa
Billboard stated:
While EMPIRE continues to boast wins on the hip-hop side with acts such as Tyga and Key Glock, the company’s most significant feat now lies in its expansion into Africa, especially after the success of Fireboy DML and his Hot 100 hit, “Peru.”
Mobolaji Kareem who is the Regional Head of West Africa, EMPIRE confirmed this as he stated:
“Over the past 12 to 18 months, the rapid development of our EMPIRE team on the ground in Lagos and globally has already reaped tangible rewards with the success of our artists such as Fireboy DML, Kizz Daniel, BNXN fka Buju, Black Sherif and KiDi — not only in West Africa but around the world.”
Platoon Co-founder/CEO, Platoon, Denzyl Feigelson attributed the recent success of the South African native launched the brand to artists like ASA, Adekunle Gold, Amaarae, and Khaid.
The standouts as per category were as follows:
Music Group Europe And Africa: Warner Music Group
Fabian Drebes, Doreen Schimk (Co-presidents, Warner Music Central Europe)
Mark Fry (President, Warner Music Nordics)
Alfonso Perez-Soto (President of emerging markets, Warner Recorded Music)
Streaming: AUDIOMACK
Jason Johnson (Vp of marketing and brand strategy, Africa, Audiomack)
Max Escobar Souffrain (Director of marketing and Latin strategy, Latin America, Audiomack)
Charlotte Bwana (Manager of media & brand partnerships, Africa, Audiomack)
Tanya Lawson (Director of reggae and gospel, Caribbean, Audiomack)
Labels And Distribution:
ADA
Kaz Aida (Head of ADA Japan)
Alassane Konaté (Director, ADA France)
Larissa Lueters (Head of ADA Central Europe)
Adriana Sein (Senior vp, international, ADA Worldwide)
Sander Stijnen (Head of ADA Music Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)
Chee Meng Tan (Managing director, ADA Asia)
EMPIRE
Ezegozie Eze Jr. (Vp of market development of Africa and Diaspora, EMPIRE)
Titilope Adesanya (Project manager of Africa, EMPIRE)
Mobolaji Kareem (Regional head of West Africa, EMPIRE)
Jonathan Jules (Senior director of international marketing, EMPIRE)
PLATOON
Denzyl Feigelson (Co-founder/CEO, Platoon)
Live: DUKE CONCEPT
Osita Ugeh (CEO, Duke Concept).
Written with context from Not Just OK.
