D'banj brings global music catalogue to Nigeria

##D’banj brings global music catalogue to Nigeria

#Nigerian Afrobeats star D’banj has taken a new step in the music business by making selected international songs available to Nigerian fans through a simple mobile system.

#Through his platform C.R.E.A.M. (Creative Reality Entertainment Art and Music), he has partnered with the United States-based Cinq Music Group to offer foreign recordings for purchase via USSD.

#The service allows fans to buy full-track downloads and caller ring-back tones at prices set for the Nigerian market. The first song released under the deal is American rapper T.I.’s hit “Live Your Life,” featuring Rihanna. Fans can access the track without needing a data connection, which makes it easier for people who prefer mobile money or basic phone transactions.

#According to a statement from C.R.E.A.M., the partnership aims to bring internationally recognised music into a Nigerian-owned platform with local payment options.

#D’banj explained the idea behind the model, saying: “When the receipt is generated here, the asset gets value here. A stream is a data point. A sale is a receipt.

#C.R.E.A.M. is owned here, priced here and pays here.” The completed purchases create transaction records that give rights holders clearer information about demand in Nigeria.

#C.R.E.A.M. is not only a sales channel. It already supports talent discovery, content distribution, fan engagement, rewards and gaming. Adding international catalogue through Cinq Music expands the music available while keeping the focus on direct connection between artists and fans in Nigeria. This approach helps local fans enjoy global hits while giving the rights owners real sales data instead of just streaming numbers.

#The company plans to use the Nigerian launch as a starting point for other African markets, depending on rights agreements, commercial deals and local infrastructure. More songs and additional countries will be announced once the arrangements are finalised. For now, the focus remains on making the first tracks easy to buy and listen to on ordinary mobile phones across Nigeria.

#This move builds on D’banj’s long career as both an artist and entrepreneur. By bringing foreign catalogue to Nigerian buyers through a local system, he is creating a new way for international music to reach fans and for rights holders to track real sales in the market. It also shows how Nigerian platforms can play a bigger role in the distribution of global music content.