The U.S. Consulate General in Lagos has brought together more than 120 intellectual property policymakers, lawyers, music executives, artists, producers, distributors and other creative industry stakeholders for a three-day workshop focused on strengthening intellectual property protection and expanding investment opportunities in Nigeria’s music industry.
The workshop, titled “IP for Growth in Africa: Lagos Music Industry Workshop,” examined how stronger intellectual property protection and enforcement could help Nigerian creators generate revenue, attract investment and build commercial partnerships with businesses in the United States and other international markets.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, U.S. Consul General Brandon Hudspeth described Nigeria’s music industry as both a major cultural force and a growing trade and investment opportunity.
Hudspeth said stronger IP protection could give creators greater control over their work while providing investors with greater confidence to enter partnerships, finance projects and develop new markets.
The workshop highlighted the growing commercial relationship between the Nigerian and U.S. music industries. Participants discussed how international record labels, digital platforms and other music businesses have contributed to the global distribution and commercialization of Nigerian music.
Existing partnerships, including Universal Music Group and Mavin Records and EMPIRE and YBNL, were highlighted during the workshop as examples of commercial collaborations that have helped Nigerian artists reach wider international audiences and develop additional revenue opportunities.
Discussions focused on several issues affecting the commercial development of the music industry, including copyright ownership, royalty systems, licensing, contracts, IP enforcement, music monetization, streaming, publishing and international market access.
The workshop was organized in partnership with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), U.S. Mission in Geneva, and Nigerian alumni of the American Music Mentorship Program (AMMP), a U.S. government exchange program implemented in partnership with the Recording Academy.
Ten Nigerian AMMP alumni participated in the discussions, sharing experience and professional knowledge gained from the U.S. and Nigerian music industries.
Other participants included representatives from the Nigerian Copyright Commission, World Intellectual Property Organization Nigeria Country Office, National Council for Arts and Culture, Lagos State Government, and American music companies operating in Nigeria.
The initiative comes as Nigerian music, particularly Afrobeats, continues to expand internationally. Organizers emphasized that effective copyright protection, enforcement and licensing structures will be important to ensuring that creators can benefit financially from that growth while encouraging further investment in the country’s creative sector.
Source: U.S. Consulate General Lagos
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