The Harsh Truth About Nigeria’s Music Industry Fame Betrayal And Building Billion Naira Businesses
Guest: Ubi Franklin, Music Executive & Founder of Made Men Music Group (Triple MG)
What does it really take to build stars in Nigeria’s music industry? In this explosive episode, Ubi Franklin opens up on the business of Afrobeats, how he discovered Tekno, built Kukere into a national anthem with Iyanya, and why the music business is more volatile than real estate or oil.
From negotiating shows with Davido, to losing money on failed deals, to why “contracts don’t guarantee loyalty,” Ubi shares the unfiltered truth about fame, betrayal, and survival in Africa’s most competitive industry.
In this episode:
→ Why music is the riskiest but most rewarding business in Africa
→ How Ubi Franklin built Triple MG and discovered Tekno
→ The untold story of Kukere and Iyanya’s rise
→ Why Nigerian banks won’t fund entertainment
→ The danger of one hit songs
→ Loyalty, betrayal, and why contracts don’t protect you
→ Ubi’s friendships with Davido, Kiss Daniel, and Tekno
→ Why friendship is worth more than transactions
→ His advice for young men navigating fame, women, and relationships
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00:00 – Intro: Reinvention, Risk & The Cost of Staying Visible
01:30 – The Business of Entertainment in Africa
05:20 – Why Nigerian Banks Don’t Invest in Music
10:00 – Building TripleMG & Afrobeat’s First Global Push
14:00 – Documenting Iyanya’s Historic 31-City Tour
19:30 – Why Banks Still Don’t Understand Music Catalogs
23:00 – The Structure Problem with Nigerian Entertainers
25:00 – Starting Out: From Julius Agwu’s PA to Running a Studio
30:00 – The Making of Kukere: Hustle, Generators & Breakthroughs
33:20 – From Failed Papers to Bitcoin: An Unexpected Pivot
38:00 – Launching Instant Pickup, Instant Apartment & Early Startups
40:15 – When Nigeria Happened: Business Losses & Hard Lessons
44:40 – Walking Away from Debt & Finding Peace
48:30 – Why Artists Can’t Stay Hot Forever
50:30 – The Big 3: Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy & Breaking Into Their League
56:00 – How Music Used to Spread: From Alaba to the Diaspora
58:40 – The Flavor Blueprint: Staying Relevant Without Being ‘Big 3’
1:03:00 – Understanding Your Market: Flavor, Chike & Small Doctor
1:08:00 – Inside Davido’s Malibu Camp & How Hits Are Born
1:12:00 – Nigeria Will Happen to You: Culture, Corruption & Everyday Chaos
1:18:00 – Why Most Artists Don’t Build Relationships That Matter
1:22:00 – The New Music Economy: Influencers, Distribution & Global Reach
1:27:00 – Why Consistency Beats Hype: Lessons for Young Artists
1:32:00 – Flavor, Chike & Ethnic Markets: The Power of Knowing Your Base
1:38:00 – Building Resilience After Business & Personal Setbacks
1:44:00 – Nigeria vs. Government vs. People: Who Really Holds Us Back?
1:50:00 – Advice on Relationships, Decisions & Longevity
1:55:00 – Who Ubi Wants to See Next on Afropolitan Podcast
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