On the evening of February 20, 2025, a number of [Nigerian] music industry players—executives, artists, and media personalities—gathered at SORA Lagos, a high-end rooftop restaurant in the heart of Victoria Island, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of ONErpm’s operations in Nigeria.

Watch my personal recap video here

Between the clinking of glasses and exchange of pleasantries, the evening featured an address by Osagie Osarenz, ONErpm’s Director of African Operations. She took us on a reflective journey through ONErpm’s growth in Nigeria, recounting how the company has evolved into being the preferred [label] partner for many Nigerian artists.

The event was graced by ONErpm-affiliated artists, including Chike, Nasboi, and Kcee, while Zlatan and Bella Shmurda took center stage to deliver heartfelt tributes to Osagie and ONErpm. They recounted their years-long partnership with the company and the crucial role it has played in their careers.

The evening reached its climax with a keynote speech from ONErpm’s CEO, Emmanuel Zunz, marking his first visit to Nigeria. In his address, Zunz reaffirmed ONErpm’s dedication to the region, stating emphatically:

“We’re going to double down on our investment in Africa and, in turn, Nigeria. I’m inspired; you guys inspire me.”

Zunz’s pledge to further ONErpm’s investments in Nigeria is consistent with his age-long belief in the potential of emerging markets. In a 2024 podcast interview with Music Business Worldwide (MBW) founder Tim Ingham, he had already signaled the company’s growing focus on Africa. When asked which territories had seen the most investment from ONErpm in recent years, he responded:

“We’ve had some success in Africa; we want to double down on our investment in Africa. We’ve had great success in Nigeria. I think Africa will continue to be a focal point for us.”

This isn’t Zunz’s first bold bet on an emerging market. ONErpm’s success story is perhaps best illustrated by its dominance in Brazil, where it controls an estimated 17–18% market share—competing at a level that even challenges major labels.

“I have a Masters degree in Economics, and my focus was on emerging markets,” Zunz explained in the MBW interview. “I’ve always been drawn to them. The unknown excites me.”

Recalling his entry into Brazil, he shared:

“When I launched in Brazil, I didn’t really know what I was getting into. All I knew was that Brazil, at the time, was the fifth-largest economy in the world. I knew it had massive music production and a rich musical culture. And I suspected that DSPs (digital streaming platforms) would eventually open in Brazil. So, I made a bet. I don’t know if any other truly independent music company has reached this level of market share in such a significant market.”

His gamble paid off. By 2022, ONErpm held one of the highest numbers of charting tracks on the Spotify Top 200 in Brazil. Now, Zunz is setting his sights on replicating that success in Africa.

ONErpm began operations in Nigeria in 2020, [then] appointing Osagie Osarenz as country manager. The Lagos office joined a global network spanning over 20 territories. A prime example of success that ONErpm has since recorded is Chike & Mohbad’s “Egwu”, which became the most-streamed song on Spotify Nigeria in the first half of 2024 and later ended the year as the 10th most-streamed song overall. Other success stories include the viral hit “Umbrella” by Nasboi & Wande Coal and Kcee’s “Ojapiano”, the genre-defying fusion of Igbo traditional sounds with South Africa’s Amapiano.

Culled from our H1 2024 magazine

The company’s roster features a strong lineup of Nigerian artists, including Zlatan, Bella Shmurda, Chike, Kcee, and the late Mohbad. ONErpm’s catalog also includes fan favorites such as Vector and GoodGirl LA’s “Early Momo”, one of the most critically-acclaimed love songs in Nigeria in recent years.

According to Spotify’s 2024 Valentine’s Day data, confirmed by the DSP itself, “Egwu” was among the most-streamed love songs in Nigeria that day, alongside Wizkid’s “One Love” (from the Bob Marley tribute album) and Shallipopi & Odumodublvck’s “Cast”.

Recognizing the continent’s growing demand for digital music distribution, ONErpm expanded its African footprint in 2022, launching five new offices and promoting Osagie Osarenz to Director of African Operations. Under her leadership, ONErpm now operates in Accra (Ghana), Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Nairobi (Kenya), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), and Johannesburg (South Africa). Osarenz now oversees the company’s African strategy under the guidance of Martin Price, ONErpm’s Head of Global Expansion.

According to Osarenz,

“We now have over 5,000 accounts being created on the ONErpm platform monthly and over 3,000 music releases monthly across Africa.”

With over 40 offices worldwide, ONErpm offers a hybrid business model that caters to both independent artists and established acts. Unlike traditional labels, its services range from low-cost DIY distribution to full-scale label partnerships.

The company’s structure includes multiple tiers:

• DIY Distribution – Artists retain full independence while accessing the platform’s distribution tools.
• ‘Taking Off’ Tier – Select artists receive advances and in-house marketing/PR/playlisting support to accelerate their careers.
• ‘Next Level’ Tier – Artists receive a higher level of investment, including potential copyright ownership deals with ONErpm.

Founded in 2010, ONErpm has steadily grown into one of the music industry’s most formidable forces. While the company operates with the agility of an independent, its market share in key territories especially Brazil rivals that of major labels. For Emmanuel Zunz, the vision is to carve a future where artists retain more control over their careers while still benefiting from label-level resources and and if history is any indication, ONErpm is only just getting started.