emPawa Publishing successfully hosted its highly anticipated debut Fireside Chat event on November 6th, 2023 at the prestigious Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. Established in 2020, emPawa Publishing is known for its roster of talented writers and producers, including Mr Eazi, Tekno, Killertunes, Joeboy, Type A and more. The company has paid out over 5 billion Naira in royalties to its clients.
The Fireside Chat was led by Ayomide Adeware, Head of emPawa Publishing, and featured a panel with Mr Eazi, Founder & CEO of emPawa Africa; Willard Ahdritz, Founder and Chairman of Kobalt Music; and Emmanuel ‘EKelly‘ Nwosu, Head of Music at emPawa Africa. The discussion highlighted the ongoing need for infrastructure, adoption of best practices and financial investment in the Nigerian music industry and Africa as a whole.
Commenting on the session, Mr Eazi stated “Nigerian Music is the most consumed in Africa while Afrobeats is one of the fastest growing genres. It is only right that we continue to provide education and support to creators so as to close the gaps in the African publishing ecosystem”. These points were further bolstered by Willard Ahdritz who said he believes Lagos can deliver the same figures as Los Angeles in a decade if all the right structures are put in place.
Prominent figures in the music industry, such as Kenny Ogungbe, I.D Ogungbe, Olisa Adibua, Pretty Okafor (President, PMAN), Killertunes, Osagie Osarenkhoe, Gospelondbeatz, Spreachbeats, Bizzle Osikoya, Adaobi Obimma(Clients partnership, emPawa Publishing) and Mr Mayo Ayilaran with executives from the Musical Copyright Society (MCSN), were also in attendance.
The event fostered engaging conversations through interactive Q&A sessions, panel discussions, and social media discussions using the #emPawaFireside hashtag. Attendees and virtual participants actively participated, sharing their thoughts and insights. The Fireside Chat provided a platform for industry professionals and aspiring talents to connect, exchange ideas, and form new partnerships in music publishing, industry trends, and the future of the music business.
The Fireside chat ended with Kelechi Nwosu expressing gratitude on behalf of the emPawa group to all the speakers, attendees, sponsors, and partners who contributed to the event’s success. The emPawa Fireside chat organized by emPawa Publishing company plays a pivotal role in empowering and educating music creators, furthering emPawa Africa’s mission to nurture and support creative talents across the continent.
