For over a week, Mavin Records, CEOed by Afrobeats legendary producer Don Jazzy, has been in the news after selling most of its stake to Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment. 

Although the figure of the deal was undisclosed in the official communication, Billboard estimated that the deal cost over $100m, making it the biggest deal in African music. 

Don Jazzy retains his position as CEO, while his sibling, now renowned music executive Tega Oghenejobo, stays on as the COO. 

This feat represents a significant success for Don Jazzy and the record label he founded in 2012 after he split from his long-term partner and collaborator D’Banj, with whom he owned the now-defunct Mo’ Hits record. 

In looking into the details of Mavin’s triumph, invaluable lessons emerge that resonate far beyond the world of music, offering indispensable insights for every business aspiring to hit such heights and carve its path to the top. 

This article examines three lessons businesses can learn from Don Jazzy and Mavin Records. 

For his branding, Don Jazzy has evolved over the past decade from the mysterious producer behind D’Banj to the face of his label and a pleasant personality, making him loved on social media, especially Instagram. 

Part of what has also made him loved is his constant collaboration with creators, no matter their status, from big and established social media influencers and up-and-coming creators to music journalists, etc. 

His strategic collaborations have amplified Mavin Records’ marketing reach, serving as a playbook for businesses. 

Don Jazzy has coordinated a pattern of  of free yet invaluable marketing for Mavin Records by fostering symbiotic partnerships with influencers, creators, and journalists. 

Look out for the next time Mavin Record launches a new artist, record, or project and notice how hundreds of creators, from food content creators to skit makers, comedians, etc., help push it. 

This collaborative synergy is a business guiding principle, urging founders to embrace collaboration for mutual enrichment. 

Forging alliances can pave the way for exponential growth, facilitating the cross-pollination of user bases and markets.

At the heart of Mavin Records’ success lies a relentless pursuit of innovation and adaptability. 

Don Jazzy has survived different eras with his record label and career, astutely and constantly navigating shifts in the music industry. 

Jazzy and Mavin Records have epitomised rapid evolution, from swiftly changing his artist roasters to embracing evolving music sounds. 

Jazzy started Mavin Records in 2012 with Tiwa Savage, Wande Coal, Dr Sid, and D’Prince. None of these artists are still on this label as of today. 

To make it even more interesting, Mavin Records has had another set of artists pass through after the founding acts. 

Korede Bello, Reekado Banks, Iyanya and Dija have passed through the label. It is on its third iteration with superstars like Rema and Ayra Star, Ladipoe, Johnny Drille and other acts. 

This ability to evolve rapidly and embrace innovation is not unique just to the music industry. Businesses must cultivate a culture of agility and innovation to thrive in dynamic markets. 

Mavin went from being a label with a single producer to having a whole production and writing team. 

Don Jazzy invested in people for the label’s success, knowing when to take backstage and allowing younger people with fresh ideas to run the record company. 

This strategy was how his younger brother Tega became the COO and known as the guy that runs Mavin Record; this is also how another of his siblings, D’ Prince, founded his label, Jonzing World, now an imprint of Mavin Record. D’ Prince went on to discover Rema, the biggest star in the Mavin universe. 

Mavin’s trajectory starkly contrasts the fate of labels like Kennis Music, which was the biggest record label in Nigeria in the early days of Afrobeats and home to the biggest acts of those days like 2 Face, Eedris Abdulkareem, etc. Currently, Kennis Music holds no significance and is a shadow of its former self.

Kennis Music once had a certain Osagie Osarenz, who left the label and discovered Wizkid, who has gone on to become one of Nigeria’s most successful acts. Imagine the potential scenario where the founders of Kennis Music empowered her; she could have brought Wizkid to the record company to rejuvenate its shelf life as a music label. 

As businesses navigate the complexities of leadership, empowering individuals capable of reshaping fortunes becomes vital for sustained growth and relevance.

Beyond its accolades in the music industry, Mavin Records stands as a beacon of entrepreneurial wisdom, offering a blueprint for success applicable to businesses across sectors. 

As businesses aspire to scale new heights, they must take these lessons and apply them.