Universal Music Group has become the first major international label to license its catalog to uduX, a Nigeria-based music streaming service. The service is currently available as part of subscription with music and lifestyle company Habari, but will soon have its own stand-alone app.
Effective immediately, uduX will distribute music from UMG’s extended family of labels, giving subscribers access to both Nigerian and global artists including Bob Marley, Maroon 5, Tekno, Lady Zamar, Post Malone, Eminem, Nicki Minaj, Brenda Fassie, World, J. Cole, Mr. Eazi, Lil Wayne, Hugh Masekela, Tamia and others.
“This partnership extends our reach and makes our artists’ music even more accessible to Nigerian music lovers,” said Ezegozie Eze Jr., general manager, Universal Music Nigeria. “We are delighted to be the first global music company to partner with uduX and look forward to bringing the extraordinary creativity of our artists to as many Nigerian users as possible.”
UMN launched in July 2018 and is based in Lagos. In November the label became the first major to license its catalog to Africa’s biggest streaming platform Boomplay, which recently announced it has raised $20 million in Series A funding to continue its rapid expansion on the emerging continent.
In making the announcement Chidi Okeke, CEO of Groove Platforms, which is developing uduX music said, “We have created a new platform to bring value to the music ecosystem both here in Nigeria, and the wider world at large. uduX music is excited to be working with Universal Music Group to help shape the future of digital music consumption in Africa and provide Nigerian music fans with access to their favorite artists from around the world.”