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BY KEHINDE AJOSE

In recent times the Nigerian music industry has seen the emergence of various record labels .Some of them have come   and   vanished with a speed of light, while others have maintained their relevance churning A-list artistes, marketing and promoting their brands, and registering their presence in the minds of music lovers.

For every M.I there is a Chocolate city , for every Jaywon there is a Kennis music.   This report explores the competition among     record labels and how they battle to outdo each other in the marketplace

Marvin Records

Don Jazzy, D’banj, Dr Sid at Ice Prince F

Marvin Records headed by Don Jazzy has been instrumental to the mainstream acclaim of Tiwa Savage and Dr Sid .The label boasts of artistes who have clinched endorsement deals,  lucrative deals, have hit songs and have been the shelter to consummate artistes who before now are nothing but up and coming greenhorns who needed   platforms to showcase their crafts.

With Tiwa Savage and Dr Sid in the Marvin team ,the battle for supremacy among labels might just be getting hotter.

Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E)
Prides itself as leading the urban music revolution and re-defining what is considered African music. E.M.E has gradually become the power house for sheltering     talents .

The label discovered Ayodeji Balogun a.ka   Wizkid and helped his music aptitude to blossom, making him clinch awards ,record hit songs, get rave reviews,   and become the poster boy   for young achievers. In terms of visibility, the label is one that has added value to Nigeria’s music. Another top act on the label is Niyola, who is currently making waves.

Storm Records
Storm records took Nigeria’s Entertainment by storm. The label has a knack for taking the road less travelled and pushing her artistes to the point where they become established acts. The likes of Naeto C, and     Sasha, are bonafide graduates of the Storm school.

These days, Storm Records   has become a quiet lion in the music jungle. The label hardly boasts of any artiste that has mainstream appeal. The old glory of Storm Records needs to be restored.

Kennis Music
Let it be known that Kennis Music is the label that gave Nigerian music a face and a facelift. Kennis Music was a lone voice in the desert pushing for recognition for Nigerian acts.  From signing The Remedies , Marvellous Benjy to the present, Kennis Music has single-handedly discovered and nurtured the likes of Tuface Idibia     who rules in the Nigerian music landscape today.

Jaywon   is unarguably the most visible act in the Kennis Music label The label is flaunting him like a mother flaunts chocolate in the face of her hungry child

Chocolate City
Founded by Audu Maikori, the record label operates as a subsidiary of Chocolate City Group, one of the most vibrant entertainment companies out of Africa. At a time when rap music was a virgin territory in Nigeria, Choc city, as it is often called by the label artistes, made us believe in three Jos boys- M.I, Ice-Prince, and Jesse Jagz.

They pushed these dudes with everything within them and it eventually paid off through endorsement deals garnered. Ice Prince and M.I are one of the new faces of contemporary Nigerian hiphop.

The Goretti Company
Owned by Clarence Peters and Managed by Ill-bliss, the company is responsible for the   music careers of Chidinma, Tha Suspekt,   and Illbliss. The Goretti Company has relentlessly worked on   the brand of Chidinma.

She has grown from the fresh faced young damsel who clinched the Project Fame prize to becoming one of the leading female artistes in Nigeria’s entertainment. Perhaps one of the selling points of the entertainment outfit lies in the fact that they also own a video production company called Capital Dreams. Chidinma is like a winning recipe every other label battles to own.

Soul Musik
Soul Musik is a breath of fresh air in the Nigerian entertainment terrain. Co-owned by Darey Art Alade and his wife, Deola, Soul Musik houses the talent of Moeazy, Zaina and Darey himself.

One of the strong points of the label is her annual LoveLike AMovie(LLAM) valentine’s concert which has made the label a force to reckon with among her contemporaries. With the publicity the label garners from the show, other labels dream to replicate this feat.

Square Records
Square Records is the official record label of the dynamic sensational duo – Peter and Paul Okoye-Psquare. Over the years, the label has been responsible for Psquare’s music activities-from recording, distribution, performances, to production.

Little wonder   the twins were recognized as one of the richest artistes in Africa by Forbes Magazine. Armed with   a clear winning formula, The Square Records success story   is the dream of every record label

Hypertek Records
The label isn’t just about hype but has some artistes to boast of. Dammy Krane happens to be one of the talents signed to the label owned by Tuface Idibia. Dammy Krane is a vivacious young dude whose versatility and artistry appears to be his winning edge.

Even though he is a new entrant in the industry, he is fast making a name for himself in the crowded terrain, flying the Hypertek flag. It won’t be a surprise if other labels begin to woo Dammy Krane

Db Records
D’Banj Records calls herself the new wave of creativity set to change the face of music and entertainment in Nigeria. Whether they have started achieving the lofty goal is another story entirely.

Apparently owned by  D’Banj ,the label in a short time, has been able to push the careers of D’banj and that of his brother Kay Switch. With massive hits, groovy beats, and mouth-watering endorsement deals in her arsenal, DB Records is making other labels cringe.