Virgin Music Group has expanded its operations into Nigeria, opening an office in Lagos.
The record label and music company is the global independent music division of Universal Music Group (UMG).
It brings together UMG’s leading label and artiste service businesses including Virgin and Ingrooves under unified leadership and strategy.
Virgin, at the launch of its Nigerian office earlier in the week, appointed Olukorede Ikazoboh, a Nigerian music executive, to oversee the company’s operations from Lagos.
“Ikazoboh is known throughout Nigeria as a champion of independent labels and artist development, said Michael Roe, Managing Director of Virgin Music International,” the label said.
“Her relationships, expertise and insight into the local market make her the perfect executive to lead our operations in this very important music market.”
Ikazoboh has helped to guide the careers of such Nigerian artistes as Odunsi the Engine, Mowalola, and Taylwar as a music manager through her company Kimani Moore Entertainment.
The music executive has also served in a variety of positions in emerging markets for Warner Music Group.
Reacting after her appointment, Ikazoboh said: “Nigeria has become a hugely important creative hub, producing some of the most exciting music anywhere in the world.
“I’m looking forward to working with independent labels and artists to help them build their fan bases both here and around the world.
“I am truly honoured to lead this mission with my team and look forward to the incredible journey ahead.”
Among the first deals announced in the region by Virgin is a partnership with Dvpper, a Nigerian label.
Virgin Music Group has had a presence in Africa since 2021, when the company acquired South Africa’s Electromode, one of the region’s leading independent music distributors.
In 2022, the company launched a dedicated label services division in Côte d’Ivoire with more than 15,000 titles, 50 label partners, and over 100 artistes from more than 25 African countries.
Virgin Music has played a major role in many of the world’s emerging popular music genres, including Afrobeats, música Mexicana, and K-pop, among others.
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