Why Spotify & Apple Own Afrobeats ( And How We Lose) Audu Maikori

Description

Audu Maikori built Chocolate City into Africa's most enduring record label — the only one from its generation still standing and profitable after 20 years. But this conversation goes far beyond music. We unpack the intellectual property crisis quietly stripping Africans of ownership over their own culture, why Nigerian artists are generating billions of streams while losing the rights internationally, and the distribution bottleneck holding back every sector of the Nigerian economy. Audu breaks down: • Why Chocolate City survived when every other label from its era collapsed • The copyright trap: why your music isn't yours if it's not registered in the US • "We built an industry on someone else's infrastructure. We own nothing." • Linda Ikeji vs. BellaNaija: the difference between a hustle and an institution • Why hip-hop has been "trapped" for 15 years — and what Afrobeats can learn • The $22 billion catalog acquisition wave and what it means for African artists • Jay-Z vs. Diddy: the brutal lesson on community, legacy, and co-ownership • His "wilderness moment" — broke, in debt, and one prayer away from giving up • Why destabilizing Nigeria is a geopolitical project, not just a governance failure This isn't just about entertainment. It's about ownership, infrastructure, and who controls the future of African culture. AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 100 pieces. Application only. Apply here: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr WHERE TO FIND AUDU MAIKORI Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audumaikori Twitter: https://x.com/audumaikori Chocolate City: https://www.chocolatecitymusic.com EPISODE SPONSORS Vban - Open a free global account in minutes. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://vban.com Quill - AI meeting notes that live on your device, not in your cloud. No bots on your call, no copy-pasting transcripts. Try free → https://www.quillmeetings.com/partners/afropolitan CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Convo - Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ AFRO