Afropolitan
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[DELETED ON YOUTUBE] The Harsh Truth About Nigeria’s Music Industry Fame Betrayal And Building Billion Naira Businesses
1 hour 58 minutes Posted Sep 16, 2025 at 4:05 pm.
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– Intro: Reinvention, Risk & The Cost of Staying Visible
– The Business of Entertainment in Africa
– Why Nigerian Banks Don’t Invest in Music
– Building TripleMG & Afrobeat’s First Global Push
– Documenting Iyanya’s Historic 31-City Tour
– Why Banks Still Don’t Understand Music Catalogs
– The Structure Problem with Nigerian Entertainers
– Starting Out: From Julius Agwu’s PA to Running a Studio
– The Making of Kukere: Hustle, Generators & Breakthroughs
– From Failed Papers to Bitcoin: An Unexpected Pivot
– Launching Instant Pickup, Instant Apartment & Early Startups
– When Nigeria Happened: Business Losses & Hard Lessons
– Walking Away from Debt & Finding Peace
– Why Artists Can’t Stay Hot Forever
– The Big 3: Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy & Breaking Into Their League
– How Music Used to Spread: From Alaba to the Diaspora
– The Flavor Blueprint: Staying Relevant Without Being ‘Big 3’
– Understanding Your Market: Flavor, Chike & Small Doctor
– Inside Davido’s Malibu Camp & How Hits Are Born
– Nigeria Will Happen to You: Culture, Corruption & Everyday Chaos
– Why Most Artists Don’t Build Relationships That Matter
– The New Music Economy: Influencers, Distribution & Global Reach
– Why Consistency Beats Hype: Lessons for Young Artists
– Flavor, Chike & Ethnic Markets: The Power of Knowing Your Base
– Building Resilience After Business & Personal Setbacks
– Nigeria vs. Government vs. People: Who Really Holds Us Back?
– Advice on Relationships, Decisions & Longevity
– Who Ubi Wants to See Next on Afropolitan Podcast
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Show notes
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 Afrobeat, 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
Want to connect
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YouTube link - https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan
Spotify Link - https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64
Apple Link - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585
Hosted by
Eche — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/
Chika — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/
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