The deal marks a major step forward for Amelia Songs, offering its roster of African songwriters and producers access to Kobalt’s world-class infrastructure, international sync licensing network, global administration, and expansive royalty collection capabilities.
By Emmanuel ‘Waziri’ Okoro
Amelia Songs, the fast-rising independent music publishing company founded by Billboard-recognised Nigerian music lawyer, Akinyemi Ayinoluwa, has announced a landmark global publishing partnership with Kobalt Music Publishing.
The deal marks a major step forward for the Pan-African creative company, offering its roster of African songwriters and producers access to Kobalt’s world-class infrastructure, international sync licensing network, global administration, and expansive royalty collection capabilities. Through the alliance, Amelia Songs aims to strengthen its mission to amplify African songwriting and storytelling on the global stage.
The partnership addresses key challenges faced by African songwriters and producers in reaching international markets, securing sync placements, and collecting royalties across multiple territories and digital platforms. With Kobalt’s support, Amelia Songs can now offer competitive global deals, streamlined administration, and creative opportunities that were previously out of reach.
Describing the partnership as transformative, Ayinoluwa said: “This isn’t just a business deal – it’s a powerful amplification of everything we’ve been building. At Amelia Songs, we’ve poured ourselves into nurturing songwriters with world-class talent and untold stories. With Kobalt’s global reach, technology, and financial support, we can now move faster, go further, and unlock opportunities we once only dreamed of, from film and TV placements to international co-writes and fairer royalty outcomes”.
The collaboration will also streamline licensing, ease administrative burdens, and increase investment in developing and signing new African songwriting talent.
Kobalt’s Head of Creative UK & GSA, Kenny McGoff, said: “We’re excited to be working with, and supporting, Akinyemi and the Amelia roster. His talent and entrepreneurial spirit make Amelia a compelling destination for African writers and artists. We’re grateful to him for choosing Kobalt as his worldwide publishing partner”.
Since its inception, Amelia Songs has been committed to amplifying African creativity through strategic placements, licensing, creative development, and cross-border collaborations. In the past year, it has hosted over a dozen writing camps in Lagos and internationally, connecting a new generation of African songwriters and producers with global collaborators. The company is now set to expand its roster, boost sync activity, and showcase its talents at major industry events, including the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) later this year.
Akinyemi Ayinoluwa is a leading legal voice in the African music economy, an entertainment lawyer, strategist, and industry educator whose practice blends cultural knowledge with innovative dealmaking.
As managing partner of Lagos-based Hightower Solicitors & Advocates, he has spent over a decade representing leading afrobeats creatives, including Magicsticks, Ragee, Blaq Jerzee, Kuk Beat, and Masterkraft, while championing the legal and financial rights of African songwriters and producers, the often-overlooked architects of modern African music.