The Business Behind Afrobeat Festivals And Why "Detty December" Became Africa's Summer Sensation
Afropolitan
Behind-the-Scenes: Currency Shocks and Commitments
Darey recounts forex shocks, contract exposure, and how macro volatility forces promoters to adapt.
Darey On LiveSpot, Dirty December, Cardi B, And The Business Of African Entertainment
Guest: Darey Art Alade, Founder of LiveSpot 360
What if entertainment wasn’t just about the music, the lights, or the artists but about building the infrastructure of a billion dollar industry in Africa?
In this powerful conversation, Darey takes us behind the scenes of Nigeria’s creative economy from pioneering LiveSpot 360 to bringing global stars like Cardi B and Kelly Rowland, and shaping the cultural movement known as Dirty December.
He shares how festivals are built from scratch, the financial realities of touring in Nigeria, and the policies that could unlock Africa’s entertainment future. Darey also opens up about working with his wife, balancing creativity with business, and why cultural influence is Africa’s next global export.
In this episode:
→ The untold business of concerts, festivals, and shows in Nigeria
→ Why Dirty December became “Africa’s summer”
→ Building LiveSpot 360 out of frustration and problem solving
→ Behind the scenes of Cardi B’s Lagos show and cultural impact
→ How forex, inflation, and infrastructure shape African entertainment
→ The future of Afrobeat, Nollywood, and experiential marketing
→ What every Nigerian artist needs to break through today
→ How cultural influence opens doors to politics and global power
→ Lessons on marriage, business partnerships, and energy management
If you’re Afropolitan, drop a YES in the comments and subscribe for more builder-level conversations.
This episode is sponsored by Inverroche Gin, South Africa’s premium craft gin that fuses heritage botanicals with innovation.
Discover more: https://www.inverroche.com/
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Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585
Hosted by
Eche — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/
Chika — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/
Stay connected with Afropolitan
Twitter: https://x.com/afropolitan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/
00:00 - Intro
02:36 - The Business Behind the Show
05:38 - The Myth vs Reality of Nigerian Entertainment Business
06:36 - Breaking Down a 30,000-Person Festival Production
13:43 - Equipment Infrastructure: Why International Artists Don't Tour Nigeria
20:02 - How LiveSpot Was Born from Problems
25:10 - From Artist to Industry Builder: The Transition
29:32 - Bringing Cardi B to Nigeria: Behind the Scenes
32:00 - Cardi B Twerking at Sanuisi Roundabout at 6 AM
34:48 - Foreign Exchange Crisis and Creative Business
39:21 - The Future of Detty December
46:46 - Growing Up in a Musical Dynasty
50:17 - Building Business with Your Spouse
57:37 - Energy Management and Setting Boundaries
01:03:09 - "Your Wife Should Be Your Guy"
01:07:23 - The Evolution of Nigerian Music Industry
01:11:45 - What It Takes to Break Into Music Today
01:16:03 - Meeting Bill Clinton: Breaking Ice with Cultural Knowledge
01:20:46 - Policy Recommendations for Nigeria's Creative Industry
01:26:26 - Rapid Fire: Favorite Artists & Nigerian Food
01:32:10 - Who Should Be on Afropolitan Next
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