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Music
The Music category on 99Pluz celebrates the rhythm and stories shaping today’s soundscape. Here, we spotlight Afrobeats and beyond — from new releases and artist press drops to in-depth features that explore the people and passion behind the music. Whether it’s a club anthem, a conscious banger, or a cross-continental collab, this is where the beat meets culture.
Asake’s M$NEY and the New Reality of Afrobeats Release Day
Why Asake M$NEY dominated release day isn’t just about the album itself — it’s about how the moment was controlled before listeners even pressed play.
Sean
May 44 min read
Omah Lay’s Clarity of Mind Is Breaking Records — But Is Anyone Really Feeling It?
Omah Lay Clarity of Mind reactions reveal a clear split: the numbers say success, but listeners aren’t fully convinced. Is this a hit or just hype?
Sean
Apr 74 min read
Ayra Starr Is Everywhere Again — But Is This a Feature Run or a Strategy?
Ayra Starr feature run strategy isn’t just about visibility — it’s about control, timing, and global positioning. She’s everywhere again, but this time, it feels intentional. The real question is why now.
Sean
Apr 13 min read
Wizkid LA Sessions with Rising Artists: Co-Sign or a Quiet Global Power Move?
Wizkid LA sessions with rising artists look like casual link-ups, but beneath the surface, a quieter, more strategic play may be unfolding — one that could reshape how Afrobeats talent goes global.
Sean
Mar 304 min read
Great Adamz Expands His Sound with “Umada (Refix)” — A Bold Fusion of Global and Afro Influences
Great Adamz Umada Refix isn’t just another remix — it’s a clear signal of artistic evolution, where Afro roots meet global club influence in a sound that feels both intentional and expansive.
Sean
Mar 202 min read
AI Music and the Future of the Music Industry: Why Labels Are Both Fighting and Partnering With the Technology
AI can now generate full songs in seconds — vocals, melodies, and production included. As AI music spreads across streaming platforms, the future of the music industry is suddenly facing legal battles, new rules, and uncomfortable questions about who really owns creativity.
Sean
Mar 194 min read
Why Burna Boy’s RIAA Gold Plaque Matters More Outside Nigeria Than Within
Why Burna Boy’s RIAA Gold plaque matters isn’t about fan applause or milestone hype. It’s about leverage, documentation, and how global validation quietly determines who gets paid, booked, and taken seriously in today’s Afrobeats economy.
Sean
Jan 273 min read
Why the Wizkid vs Fela Debate Never Ends — And Why It Was Never Meant To
The Wizkid vs Fela debate keeps resurfacing because Nigerians aren’t comparing artists — they’re negotiating history, values, and identity. This piece argues that the argument itself is the culture.
Sean
Jan 244 min read
Rema, Style, and the New Age of Nigerian Celebrity Minimalism
Nigerian celebrity minimalism isn’t about fashion—it’s about authority. From Rema’s restrained image to a wider cultural shift, today’s stars are learning that real power doesn’t announce itself. It withholds, observes, and lets the world catch up.
Sean
Jan 203 min read
Burna Boy’s Global Positioning Strategy: Why “For Everybody” Is Bigger Than the Music
“For Everybody” isn’t meant to be debated like a traditional release. It’s a case study in Burna Boy’s global positioning strategy — where music becomes infrastructure, not the end goal. This piece explores how Afrobeats power is now built around culture, proximity, and global ecosystems.
Sean
Jan 193 min read
The Business Side of Nigerian Music That Fans Rarely Talk About
The business side of Nigerian music is rarely discussed, yet it explains why many artists who look successful are financially fragile. From streaming income and revenue splits to the hidden cost of maintaining relevance, this piece demystifies what fans usually don’t see.
Sean
Jan 163 min read
Young Jonn’s Pop Run Shows How Nigerian Music Producers Are Quietly Becoming Stars
As Nigerian pop evolves, producers are stepping into the spotlight with voices, brands, and careers of their own. Using Young Jonn’s trajectory as a case study, this article explores how Nigerian music producers are becoming artists — not for praise, but as a strategic response to changing power, visibility, and ownership in the industry.
Sean
Jan 133 min read
Wizkid’s 10 Billion Spotify Streams: What This Milestone Really Means for African Music
Wizkid’s 10 billion Spotify streams feel like a global victory for African music — but numbers this big demand closer scrutiny. From streaming economics to platform power, this article asks what Wizkid’s milestone really means, and why celebration alone doesn’t tell the full story.
Sean
Jan 123 min read
16 Years After “Holla at Your Boy”: How Wizkid Quietly Changed Nigerian Pop Forever
Sixteen years after “Holla at Your Boy,” this isn’t a nostalgia trip — it’s a cultural audit. From sound to ambition, this piece examines how Wizkid changed Nigerian pop by introducing quiet confidence, global intent, and a new creative posture that still defines the scene today.
Sean
Jan 53 min read
Wizkid, Asake, and the Power of Quiet Collaborations
Wizkid and Asake didn’t announce “MMS” with noise — they let it exist. This piece explores how quiet collaborations in Afrobeats are becoming a powerful cultural signal, reshaping rollout strategies and reminding listeners that not every moment is meant to shout.
Sean
Dec 22, 20253 min read
The ₦4–5 Million Question: Don Jazzy, Rema, and the Real Cost of Launching a Global Afrobeats Hit
Don Jazzy’s candid ₦4–5 million disclosure reframes the cost of launching a global Afrobeats hit. Beyond talent and virality, this piece explores the systems, strategy, and discipline behind records that truly travel.
Sean
Dec 16, 20254 min read
Asake’s Red Bull Symphonic Show: The Moment Everyone’s Talking About
Asake’s Red Bull Symphonic show has become one of Afrobeats’ most talked-about moments — not just for how it sounded, but for what it represents. This piece unpacks why the orchestral format worked and why the genre may have crossed into a new era.
Sean
Dec 15, 20254 min read
Wizkid’s 2025: Streaming Dominance and What It Means for the Nigerian Music Market
Wizkid streaming dominance in 2025 quietly shaped the Nigerian music market, highlighting how listeners rely more on playlists, catalogue runs, and cross-platform habits than hype or radio chatter.
Sean
Dec 11, 20254 min read
Burna Boy’s Tour Backlash: What Happened — And What It Means for Afrobeats Abroad
Burna Boy’s tour backlash didn’t just shake fans — it opened a wider conversation about Afrobeats, global touring pressure, and what happens when superstar reputation meets rising expectations abroad.
Sean
Dec 8, 20254 min read
Money in the Mix: The Royalties Every Indie Artist Needs to Stop Ignoring
If you make music, this is your royalties for indie artists playbook. Learn where money hides, who collects it, and the admin moves that turn streams into steady income.
Sean
Nov 14, 20253 min read
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