Entrepreneurial Lessons from the Trenches of the Entertainment Industry

The entertainment industry in Nigeria during the early 2000s was a fascinating, chaotic world — full of opportunity, creativity, and, unfortunately, a fair share of unprofessional behavior. During my time running Stingomania Records, I learned one of the hardest entrepreneurial truths: to succeed, you must be willing to do what it takes.

At that time, many of the artists we managed — including actors and musicians — struggled with honoring contracts. Even when agreements were clearly documented, they often disregarded revenue-sharing arrangements. They would collect payment for performances directly from event organizers or brand endorsements and fail to report it to the company, despite our significant investments in their careers.

The Harsh Reality of Managing Artists

One particular experience still stands out vividly in my memory. I managed one of the biggest names in the industry back then. Due to the prevailing culture, hosts would pay him directly for shows and events, bypassing Stingomania entirely. The same was true for movie actors and actresses.

To many in the entertainment world, referring a producer or host to your management company was seen as arrogance. They wanted to handle deals personally — but when those payments came, transparency often vanished.

One case was particularly painful. A top Nigerian actress, who I will not name, signed a multi-million-naira ambassadorial contract with a major telecom company — and I only found out through a newspaper article. Despite the fact that Stingomania had invested heavily in her career, from marketing campaigns to personal upkeep, she never disclosed the deal.

When I demanded our rightful commission, I was met with excuses. After threatening legal action, I eventually received only a fraction of what was owed. It was frustrating, but it opened my eyes to the hard realities of the business.

Lessons from the Veterans

Desperate for guidance, I reached out to Baba Keke, the legendary CEO of Kenny’s Music, who laughed and told me bluntly that I was being naïve.
He said, “You have to be ready to do whatever it takes to enforce your contracts and protect your interests.”

He shared his own experiences — attending events personally to collect payments, even shutting down shows when agreements were violated. After a few such confrontations, event organizers learned to take Kenny’s Music seriously.

But I wasn’t built for confrontation. As a lawyer-turned-record-label-executive, I wanted to avoid controversy and lawsuits. I didn’t want to make enemies or draw negative press. Unfortunately, that hesitation cost me — and the company — dearly.

When Diplomacy Fails

One famous Yoruba actress I managed argued that I didn’t deserve my commission since I hadn’t personally secured her acting gigs. Despite our written agreements, she decided to bypass us completely.

I could have taken stronger action — perhaps through litigation or public enforcement — but I didn’t. I allowed my aversion to confrontation to dictate my business decisions. Over time, that pattern weakened our authority as a label and damaged Stingomania’s reputation within the industry.

In hindsight, that was a fatal mistake. Success in any business requires not only vision and ethics but also the courage to protect your work and enforce boundaries when necessary.

More Than Contracts — It’s About Culture

Another factor that hurt our growth was my dislike for nightlife and social gatherings. In the entertainment industry, networking isn’t optional — it’s part of the business. Deals happen in clubs, after-parties, and casual hangouts.

Because I avoided these events, I missed crucial opportunities to build relationships with brand managers, promoters, and other stakeholders. My team followed my lead, which further limited our reach. Looking back, I should have empowered them to represent the company at such functions, even if I wasn’t personally present.

The Ultimate Lesson

Success demands total commitment. You can’t cherry-pick the comfortable parts of entrepreneurship and skip the gritty ones. Whether it’s enforcing contracts, showing up at inconvenient times, or doing the social work necessary to grow your brand — you must be ready to do what it takes.

Business isn’t just about passion and ideas; it’s also about execution, protection, and resilience. If you’re not willing to handle the tough parts, you may not be ready for the journey.

Final Thought

The lesson from Stingomania Records remains one of the most defining in my entrepreneurial career.
If you ever step into a business — especially one as unpredictable as entertainment — remember this:

Success rewards the bold, not the passive. Protect your work, honor your grind, and never be afraid to do what it takes.