The Next Afrobeats Star to Receive $100,000 Music Deal as ONErpm and U-Records Unveil Transformative Music Partnership

A new star is about to rise — and with it, a life-changing opportunity. The winner of The Next Afrobeats Star, Nigeria's most electrifying music talent show, will receive a groundbreaking $100,000 music deal, courtesy of a groundbreaking partnership between ONErpm and U-Records.

But the rewards don't stop there — the remaining four finalists will also be celebrated with music deals ranging from $75,000 to $25,000, ensuring that every voice on the grand stage gets the chance to shine.

U-Records, the in-house music label of Ultima Studios, has joined forces with global distribution powerhouse ONErpm to build a thriving ecosystem where emerging talents don't just get discovered — they rise, they roar, and they reign.

Together, they're not just awarding deals. They're launching destinies.

About ONErpm

ONErpm is a global, value-driven music company redefining the roles of a traditional label and distributor. Founded in 2010 by Emmanuel Zunz, with a mission to build the record label of the future, ONErpm empowers creators at every stage of their careers through innovative technology, tailored marketing, and A&R solutions deployed at scale.

ONErpm now spans more than 40 countries and is powered by over 600 music professionals. From São Paulo to Lagos, New York to Manila, its expansive global footprint is matched by localized support through genre-based business units and promotional experts embedded in each market. This infrastructure allows ONErpm to deliver culturally relevant content and meaningful results worldwide.

The company has earned more than 150 Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations and over 25 wins from 2017 to 2024, with artists featured on over 2,500 editorial playlist covers in 2024 alone.

Its diverse roster reflects the company's broad impact across genres and continents. In Africa, artists like Chike, hold over 214 million total Spotify plays, with 2.5 millionmonthly listeners. His smash “Egwu” not only topped Nigeria's Spotify chart but also racked up more than 61 million streams on its own—peaking at over 1 million streams per day during its runner-up run. Other ONErpm partnered artists across Africa are Zlatan ( Nigeria ) , Bella Shmurda ( Nigeria ), Kelvyn Boy ( Ghana ), Wendy Shay ( Ghana ), Stonebwoy ( Ghana ), Bien ( Kenya ), Willy Paul ( Kenya ), DidiB ( Côte d'Ivoire ), Rowlene ( South Africa ) and more.

In the first half of 2025 alone, ONErpm Africa has scored great wins across several genres - with a DIY+ artist, Gaise Baba debuting at no.16 on the Billboard U.S Afrobeats Songs Chart with his song 'No Turning Back II' as well as partnered artist, Erigga, winning Best Album at the recently concluded Headies Awards in Nigeria.

Beyond distribution and label services, ONErpm also offers publishing through ONE Publishing, production through ONErpm Studios, and DIY distribution via Offstep—its platform tailored to independent creators.

As one of Spotify's largest global partners and one of YouTube's most viewed music networks, ONErpm continues to amplify the music people want to hear—transforming passion into power.