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Yemi Alade Signs Licensing Deal With Universal Music

By Michael Bamidele

09 September 2019   |   10:44 pm

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Nigerian Afropop singer and songwriter Yemi Eberechi Alade better known as Yemi Alade has signed a global licensing agreement with Universal Music Africa (UMA) – Universal Music Group’s west African affiliate – in partnership with Universal Music France (UMF). Under the multi-year agreement, UMA will serve as the exclusive worldwide recorded music partner for Yemi…

Yemi Alade Signs Licensing Deal With Universal Music. PHOTO: Instagram

Nigerian Afropop singer and songwriter Yemi Eberechi Alade better known as Yemi Alade has signed a global licensing agreement with Universal Music Africa (UMA) – Universal Music Group’s west African affiliate – in partnership with Universal Music France (UMF).

Under the multi-year agreement, UMA will serve as the exclusive worldwide recorded music partner for Yemi Alade and her label Effyzzie Music Group, and UMF will serve as the international roll-out partner for the project.

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@yemialade , l'une des artistes africaines les plus talentueuses et créatives, rejoint la grande famille Universal Music ! L’interprète de « Johnny » vient de sortir son album « Woman of steel », et d’être couronnée première artiste féminine africaine à atteindre le million d’abonnés sur YouTube. Yemi Alade a choisi de faire confiance à la major africaine et au groupe Universal Music pour l’aider à passer un nouveau palier dans sa carrière déjà dense et prolifique. Lors de la signature, @moussa_soumbounou_ , directeur général d'Universal Music Africa, a déclaré : « Yemi Alade est l'une des rares artistes de l'histoire de la pop Africaine à atteindre un tel niveau de notoriété. Chez Universal Music Africa nous sommes tous fans de sa musique et malgré tout ce qu'elle a déjà accompli avec Effyzie, sa marge de progression reste importante. Nous sommes heureux et fiers de l'accompagner dans ce nouveau challenge et de l'aider à atteindre un nouveau palier international dans sa carrière. ». Pour Olivier Nusse, Président Directeur Général d'Universal Music France : " C'est une réelle opportunité pour Universal Music d'avoir la confiance d'une telle artiste. Son talent et son impact sur la musique pop africaine et même dans le monde sont indéniables et c'est avec beaucoup d'humilité mais encore plus d'ambition que nous allons soutenir son projet, avec l'aide des autres filiales du groupe. L'Afrique est plus présente que jamais sur la scène musicale mondiale et Universal Music Group, à travers un tel partenariat, confirme ses ambitions, mais aussi son leadership.". A Taiye Aliyu, CEO d’ @effyzziemusicgroup et producteur de la superstar nigériane de dire : « Nous, Effyzzie Music Group et Yemi Alade, sommes heureux de travailler avec Universal Music Group, pour changer l’histoire de la musique africaine. L'avenir, c'est l'Afrique. " Nous souhaitons la bienvenue à la reine de l’afropop chez Universal Music, et avons hâte de partager avec vous nos prochains challenges.

A post shared by Universal Music Africa (@universalmusicafrica) on Sep 9, 2019 at 8:24am PDT

This licensing agreement, effective immediately, shows UMG’s will to strengthen its position in this part of the world through UMA, and builds upon the enormous success Yemi Alade has achieved with her label Effyzzie Music Group.

In making the announcement, Moussa Soumbounou, MD of Universal Music Africa, said:

“Yemi Alade is one of the few artists in the history of African urban pop music to reach such a high level of notoriety. We at Universal Music Africa are all huge fans of Yemi Alade and her music and with what she has already accomplished with Effyzzie Music Group, we believe that our new partnership will only further elevate her superstar status globally. We are excited and proud to support her in this new phase of her career and help her reach even greater heights.”

Olivier Nusse, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music France, said:

“It is a real opportunity for Universal Music to have the confidence of such an artist. Her talent and impact on African and even world pop music are undeniable, and it is with great humility but even more ambition that we will support his project, with the help of the other subsidiaries. Africa is more present than ever on the world music scene, and Universal Music Group through such a partnership, confirms its ambitions, but also its leadership.”

Taiye Aliyu, CEO and founder of Effyzzie Music Group, added:

“We at Effyzzie Music Group and Yemi Alade are pleased to be working in partnership with the Universal Music Group, changing the narrative of African music, one artist at a time. The Future is Africa.“

Yemi Alade gained prominence after winning the Peak Talent Show in 2009, and is best known for her hit single “Johnny”. Alade is the first African female Afropop artiste to hit over 100 million views on Youtube and VEVO with her smash hit single “Johnny”, which is now the most viewed video from any African female artiste. She is also the first female entertainer in Africa to have over a million subscribers on Youtube.