Nigeria’s music industry has evolved into a $2 billion powerhouse, propelled by a wave of chart-topping artists whose influence extends far beyond the country’s borders.
In 2023 alone, Nigerian artists generated millions in royalties from global platforms, with Spotify reporting a 25% year-on-year increase in payouts to local acts.
The sector’s rapid growth is also feeding the broader economy, boosting tourism, fashion, nightlife, and digital exports.
Yet behind every hit single and sold-out tour stands a cadre of strategic power players: the artist managers. These professionals negotiate contracts, shape public images, and craft the global rollouts that turn local tracks into international anthems.
This list highlights some of Nigeria’s most influential artist managers between 2023 and 2025, selected based on their role in shaping the success of some of the country’s biggest chart-topping musicians.
This research draws from publicly available data across multiple music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, Boomplay, and Audiomack, as well as industry reports, interviews, and press coverage.
The selection process considered the following criteria:
- The number of hit songs managed artists have released in the last two to three years, measured by consistent presence on streaming and download charts.
- Sustained relevance over the period under review, rather than short-term spikes in popularity.
- Management consistency, measured by how well the manager has navigated challenges, market shifts, and career growth for their artist.
Note: this is not a ranking but a curated spotlight on the strategists behind Nigeria’s biggest music successes.
Sunday Are, a veteran in Nigeria’s entertainment industry, is widely regarded as one of the country’s most respected artist managers. As CEO of List Entertainment Limited, a promotional and management company based in Lagos, he has shaped the success of numerous stars in Nigeria and beyond.
Are’s career spans decades, with an impressive portfolio that includes work with both local and international acts such as Chris Brown, Drake, Akon, Asa, Lagbaja, King Sunny Ade, 2Baba, D’banj, and Omawumi.
His journey with Wizkid began informally years ago, during the Mo’Hits era, when Wizkid often visited Wande Coal at Are’s house. Recognizing his talent early, Are believed that with the right guidance, Wizkid could achieve global success.
He officially managed Wizkid for six to seven years, guiding him through key career milestones and helping him “pay his dues” before becoming one of Africa’s biggest music exports.
Today, Wizkid is managed by Jada Pollock, a British music executive and entrepreneur, known for her work with Chris Brown, Tinchy Strider, and Skyla Tylaa. Together, Sunday Are’s foundational mentorship and Pollock’s global industry expertise have been instrumental in propelling Wizkid to sustained international stardom.
