D’banj partners US music firm to bring foreign songs to Nigeria

Nigerian singer and entrepreneur, Oladapo Oyebanji, popularly known as D’banj, has partnered with United States-based music company, Cinq Music Group, to make selected foreign songs available to Nigerian listeners through USSD services.

The partnership will allow music lovers in Nigeria to buy and download complete songs as well as subscribe to caller ring-back tones using payment options designed for the local market.

The first song to be made available under the arrangement is American rapper T.I.’s popular track, *Live Your Life*, which features international music star Rihanna.

The development was announced in a statement from D’banj’s entertainment platform, C.R.E.A.M., on Friday, November 6, 2026.

According to the statement, the partnership is designed to make international music more accessible to Nigerian audiences by providing payment channels that are convenient and affordable for local consumers.

The platform explained that the agreement would expand its existing services, which cover talent discovery, music distribution, content monetisation, fan engagement, rewards and gaming.

It added that the arrangement would also create an opportunity for international music rights owners to better understand the demand for their recordings among Nigerian consumers.

Under the system, every completed purchase will generate a transaction receipt, providing records that can help participating rights holders track sales and measure the commercial performance of their music in Nigeria.

Speaking on the development, D’banj said the initiative would help international music owners generate revenue from Nigerian consumers through direct purchases rather than depending entirely on streaming figures.

The singer also explained that the platform was created to connect artists directly with their fans while providing more opportunities for audience participation and financial returns.

He said C.R.E.A.M. was focused on building a system where musicians could reach their audiences directly through music sales and other engagement opportunities.

The company further described the partnership as part of its direct-to-fan business model, which brings together music discovery, distribution, monetisation, fan participation and reward programmes.

It noted that working with Cinq Music Group would increase the number of international recordings available to Nigerian music lovers while maintaining its focus on connecting artists with their audiences.

C.R.E.A.M. also disclosed plans to use the Nigerian launch as a starting point for possible expansion into other African countries.

However, the proposed expansion will depend on agreements with music rights owners, commercial arrangements and the availability of the necessary local infrastructure.

The platform said more information about additional songs and the countries that could benefit from the service would be announced once the relevant agreements and arrangements had been completed.