Lagos hosts critical roundtable on African music business future

While Afrobeats and other African sounds are dominating international charts, organisers of the Africa Music Business Roundtable (AMBR) say the focus must now shift towards building sustainable business structures that ensure creators, rights holders, and investors derive greater value from the industry’s rapid growth. 

This year’s event,  the second edition of the Africa Music Business Roundtable and Music Tech Nigeria is taking place in Lagos from 16 to 18 July 2026, will feature robust discussions on music monetisation, copyright administration, artificial intelligence, music publishing, industrialised streaming fraud, data integrity, digital distribution, investment opportunities, music technology, intellectual property protection, licensing, policy development, creator economy, and the future of Africa’s music business.

The Africa Music Business Roundtable will take place on 16 and 17 July, while Music Tech Nigeria takes place on 18 July. The programme includes a keynote presentation by Mr Obi Asika, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Council for Arts and Culture. Delegates and speakers are expected from Norway, India, the United Kingdom, France, Kenya, and South Africa.

Michael Odiong, Co-Founder of Africa Music Business Roundtable and Music Tech Nigeria, said the conference aims to move conversations beyond entertainment and towards the development of a globally competitive music economy. 

“Nigeria has become one of the world’s most influential music markets. The next phase of growth requires stronger institutions, better policies, improved intellectual property protection, technology-driven solutions and greater collaboration between industry stakeholders. That is what Season Two represents,” he said.

Odiong added that the presence of experts from Europe, Africa, and Asia shows the organisers’ commitment to positioning Nigeria as a meeting point for global discussions on the future of the music business.

“This is more than a conference. It is a platform where ideas become partnerships, where policy meets innovation, and where Africa’s music industry charts its next phase of growth,” he said.

The event will create opportunities for young entrepreneurs, startups, students, artists, and independent music professionals to interact with experts in the music business and technology. Participants can expect keynote sessions, roundtable discussions, networking receptions, business matchmaking opportunities, and technology showcases.

Attendance at the Roundtable is by invitation only. The organisers have noted that the event will address the need for industrialised solutions in areas such as streaming fraud and data integrity, which affect revenue collection for creators and rights holders.

The discussions will also cover licensing frameworks, music publishing models, and investment opportunities that can support the growth of the creator economy in Nigeria and across the continent. Organisers believe that stronger copyright administration and policy development are necessary to translate the current international success of African music into long-term economic benefits for the industry.

This edition of the Africa Music Business Roundtable seeks to align policy, technology, and investment with the goal of building a more structured and sustainable music sector in Nigeria.