Eight years ago we started with a conviction that Nigerian music, built properly, artist first and for the long term, could compete with anyone. To be recognised at the top of this list is a reflection of that work.
   
Those were the words of Damilola “Dapper” Akinwunmi, Dapper Group Founder and Group CEO, while commenting on the recognition of Dapper Music & Entertainment’ as the number one Nigerian-owned music company for the first half of 2026 by Turntable Charts’ H1 2026 ranking, with a reported market share of 3.82 per cent.
   
According to Akinwunmi, the win belongs to every artist, writer, producer and member of the team who has contributed to it.

“We are building for the next eight years, not celebrating the last. As the company looks ahead, Dapper Music & Entertainment remains focused on building an enduring African music and entertainment company, with structures designed to support the continued growth of the wider creative ecosystem,” Akinwunmi stated.
   
The H1 2026 ranking adds another notable milestone to Dapper Music & Entertainment’s journey since its establishment in 2018 as the company continues to build an integrated music and entertainment business from Nigeria with a global outlook. For Dapper Group, the recognition reflects the people, creativity and collective work that have shaped the company over the past eight years, as well as a marker of the ambition behind its next chapter.
   
This recognition marks a significant milestone for Dapper Music & Entertainment and builds on the company’s consistent market performance over recent years.
   
Founded in 2018, Dapper Music & Entertainment is the record label arm of Dapper Group, a vertically integrated music and entertainment company headquartered in Lagos. The wider Dapper Group comprises Dapper Music & Entertainment, Dvpper Digital, S94 Publishing, Bangers Only Productions and Dapper Live, bringing together different areas of the music and entertainment ecosystem under one group. Collectively, the group generates more than one billion streams annually.
   
Over the years, Dapper Group has built its operations around a long-term approach to music, combining artist development, music distribution, publishing, production and live entertainment to create an integrated platform for the business of music.