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 Adekunle Gold, Amaarae, and Khaid.
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 and 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
Here are Billboard’s 2022 International Power Players ? https://t.co/lTuhMkbuo3
— billboard (@billboard) April 25, 2022
